Recent events have led to a new age restriction policy in the United Kingdom igniting discussions, especially due to the simplicity with which it can be sidestepped through the video game Death Stranding 2. The game’s ultra-realistic visuals have unintentionally weakened the UK government’s attempts to manage access to adult material online.
As of July 25, 2025, internet users across Great Britain and Northern Ireland must verify their age to view adult content. This verification can be performed by scanning an ID or utilizing facial recognition technology to determine if a user looks old enough. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of AI in judging age based purely on appearance.
Notably, within a mere 24 hours of the policy taking effect, users uncovered a technique to circumvent the age verification procedure. In the game, the main character Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, can be utilized in photo mode to deceive the system. By adjusting the character’s facial expressions, such as opening his mouth, users can lead the AI to think they are actual individuals, thus accessing restricted content.
A Twitter user, Dany Sterkhov, showcased this workaround on Discord, and the method was subsequently validated by PC Gamer. The age verification system does not retain data, enabling numerous users to take advantage of the same character’s face without being caught.
Alongside this gaming loophole, VPNs have gained traction as a favored option for circumventing the limitations, with Proton indicating a 1,400 percent rise in UK customers. This scenario poses questions about the efficacy of AI-driven age verification and whether other games with lifelike graphics, like Baldur’s Gate 3, could also be leveraged to evade similar restrictions.
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