Nexus Mods to get Age Verification in UK / EU for adult content, plus a new cross-platform app upgrade

Next step fingerprint verification, and for even naughtier content, a blood sample.

What I'm really concerned about with this approach is that to verify, one usually has to use some kind of a technology/software which is usually available/working only on so called "supported" platforms... (looking at you, DRM...)

So what if you are not using the "supported" platform that techbros so generously have chosen for you?


Last edited by Boldos on 2 Jul 2025 at 8:47 pm UTC

Let the enshittification begin! It didn't even took them a month to start.

Sure, part of the excuse is laws, but they are also putting stuff behind a paywall:

"Images which contain Pornographic content or contain Extreme violence must be posted to the supporter image share".

Not that I care about the images, or the extreme violence, not my thing, but it's clear they are going to change more so that the free users are being forced to start paying.

I hope I am wrong, but a change in ownership of a popular platform never ended well as far as I can tell/remember.

I hope I am wrong, but a change in ownership of a popular platform never ended well as far as I can tell/remember.

PayPal is doing better than it would have under Thiel and Musk. Minecraft is doing better than it would have under Notch.

So what if you are not using the "supported" platform that techbros so generously have chosen for you?

Or worse, if you really don't feel comfortable with that platform. Some of them have absolutely atrocious terms, such as using uploaded images for AI training, or retaining all of your data indefinitely, even after the process has completed. Before we make these things mandatory for anything, we better talk about how to get it done without creating a privacy nightmare in the process. I have no problem with showing ID when there is a good reason for it. But when I do that in a liquor store, the store at least doesn't keep a copy of my driver's license in their files forever. The same standard needs to apply for online ID checks, IMHO.

> To keep adult content legal, you’ll need to prove you’re 18+ before accessing most adult-tagged mods. (Exact mechanics aren’t live yet.)

Out with the old
In with the new
Screw what worked
Now barriers accrue.

Proof of age, scans of ID
Delays and rejects
You’ll wait and plea.

What once was simple
Free to explore
Now stranded behind a locked door.

It's disheartening how many people are raising their pitchfork against the new nexus mod owners when, in this case, they're just bound by the many anti-freedom laws being enacted all around the world.

As Liam said himself, even GoL had to make changes to accommodate the ridiculously overreaching and vague new UK laws. Including nuking the forum out of existence.

If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at your government (or at yourself if you didn't vote the last time you could).

I'm quite suspicious of the new Nexus ownership. But this doesn't appear to be their fault. I'm sure something that is their fault will appear at some point.

Seems to be an unpopular opinion but - good riddance. I'm tired of this wild west era of the internet where any platform can have anything on it and not be held responsible. Sure, no implementation will be perfect, but why not make the haram stuff a bit more difficult to access, eh? If this is what it takes to expose a few less people to traumatizing or shocking content all willy-nilly.

Now, I too, feel that the implementation of these being left to the free market is a bad idea. I want a transparent trust-free ubiquitous social service (from the government) identifying people and confirming to platform holder whether I am qualified for the content (jurisdiction & age). I will not give my ID to Google or platform partners (who mess things up completely in case of smaller platforms).

@Kimyrielle

Or worse, if you really don't feel comfortable with that platform. Some of them have absolutely atrocious terms, such as using uploaded images for AI training, or retaining all of your data indefinitely, even after the process has completed. Before we make these things mandatory for anything, we better talk about how to get it done without creating a privacy nightmare in the process. I have no problem with showing ID when there is a good reason for it. But when I do that in a liquor store, the store at least doesn't keep a copy of my driver's license in their files forever. The same standard needs to apply for online ID checks, IMHO.

I agree. But can we expect better if the privacy-minded people, when asked for their input on these policies, are simply yelling "nooo".

The recent SCOTUS decision this week has pointed out that AV is here to stay. The Texas one is $10k/day and has some very squishy limitations (effectively "I know it when I see it") and the various states definition of "what is a porn site" is also highly variable and probably going to get more restrictive over time. As it is written, it seems like even a patron link or a PayPal tip jar qualifies a site as commercial porn site.

Most of the laws seem to be trying to have a more positive signal than "trust me, I'm over eighteen".

It's scary for site owners. Being told the 18+ states that already have some form of AV checks are now enforceable means a lot of scrambling but it isn't the site owner's fault. The UK law is in the same boat, I'm seeing a lot of panic as folks try to cover their rears because the penalties are devastating and as soon as you get that notice, you are already screwed.

Also, AV checks are expensive. More so with popular sites like Nexus. No one wants to do them but apparently it is "reasonable" therefore not infringing on the rights of adults (back to the SCOTUS ruling).

The alternative is to block or ban it (clearly what some lawmakers would like). I only hope there becomes a shared service to do the AV checks will emerge that isn't economically expensive and require reinventing the wheel with each site.

There are some nicer things. Texas has penalties for keeping the day (also $10k/day) so hopefully it won't have as many PII breaches.

Overall, I can see why Nexus would do this. Making a mistake and not doing it risks the entire site being shutdown and financially destroying the site owners in a matter of days.

Seems fine to me, honestly.

Freedom is all good and dandy, but some things are behind age checks for a reason, and the internet has frankly been way too lax on those for ages.

Seems to be an unpopular opinion but - good riddance. I'm tired of this wild west era of the internet where any platform can have anything on it and not be held responsible. Sure, no implementation will be perfect, but why not make the haram stuff a bit more difficult to access, eh? If this is what it takes to expose a few less people to traumatizing or shocking content all willy-nilly.

Now, I too, feel that the implementation of these being left to the free market is a bad idea. I want a transparent trust-free ubiquitous social service (from the government) identifying people and confirming to platform holder whether I am qualified for the content (jurisdiction & age). I will not give my ID to Google or platform partners (who mess things up completely in case of smaller platforms).

Laws such as the UK's "children safety act" give too much power and too much data to the government. The problem with that is not necessarily what happen immediately but rather what could happen in the long run.

Let's say UK introduce some form of government controlled online ID and tracing system. Amongst other things, this system is to be enforced on crypto currencies trading. It makes sense to not let teens play with high risk (sometime borderline legal) investments after all.

Skip 5 years into the future. The economy isn't doing well, mass layoffs are happening and there is a lot of unrest. The majority party then has a genius idea: let's blame it all on crypto currencies being used to manipulate the market. They promote new laws making owning crypto wallets illegal. Luckily, with all the data collected in the past 5 years they can easily fine/jail/whatever all the traitors who abused the system.

Governments should not be seen as perfect entities always acting in the best interest of everyone. Don't get me wrong, they are necessary and for the most part a huge boon to our societies. But they have their flaws, as such people must be entitled enough privacy to guarantee their freedom.

I agree. But can we expect better if the privacy-minded people, when asked for their input on these policies, are simply yelling "nooo".

I would consider myself a privacy minded person so here is an alternative, barely fleshed out idea, just to prove that other approaches are possible:

Owning an internet connection now requires a licence, just like driving a car. Obtaining said licence requires passing a test about general knowledge (identify phishing mails, what's an ip, so on) and, most importantly, your responsibility as an adult when letting children use internet (and how to protect them).

The main difference with the current laws being passed is that, in this scenario, the government is only judging your ability to do something, not tracing everything you do with it.

The analogy with driving also works in reverse to show how absurd the new laws are. What if the government suddenly started requiring all vehicle be equipped with a gps module constantly streaming its position to the authorities because "it will protect the children". Also, the police must have a duplicate of your keys, in case they need to check you haven't abducted a kid on your way to groceries (certainly they will never lose them, nor will there be any abuse, ever).

Seems to be an unpopular opinion but - good riddance. I'm tired of this wild west era of the internet where any platform can have anything on it and not be held responsible. Sure, no implementation will be perfect, but why not make the haram stuff a bit more difficult to access, eh? If this is what it takes to expose a few less people to traumatizing or shocking content all willy-nilly.

Now, I too, feel that the implementation of these being left to the free market is a bad idea. I want a transparent trust-free ubiquitous social service (from the government) identifying people and confirming to platform holder whether I am qualified for the content (jurisdiction & age). I will not give my ID to Google or platform partners (who mess things up completely in case of smaller platforms).

Thanks for writing this. My little one, eight years young, started using Google this week. Yes, I will have to steer that, but I appreciate some content to be behind age verification check.

The analogy with driving also works in reverse to show how absurd the new laws are. What if the government suddenly started requiring all vehicle be equipped with a gps module constantly streaming its position to the authorities because "it will protect the children".

You're aware that something along these lines is already in place?!?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECall

I hope they enable age verification with the German government ID card. It allows you to prove you're above 18 without revealing your age or any other personal details.

There is also a possible chance that large social platforms will start become less engaging by the masses with Age Verification (AV). This could push content creators that rely on Nexus for discussion and distribution towards more self-hosted or community forums and servers. Nexus might not like the fragmentation. Does Facebook and X-Twitter have AV? This might a be an indirect way to reduce consumer consumption of these CEO baddies.

You're aware that something along these lines is already in place?!?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECall

Thank you for the link. I had never heard of it (I also do not own a car).

Not only is there no easy way to disable it, the system is also encumbered by patents allowing some patent troll to milk cash for free. Great design.

I hope they enable age verification with the German government ID card. It allows you to prove you're above 18 without revealing your age or any other personal details.

EU regulations are likely to require compliant verification methods --so: yes.

From what I gather, your German digital id is required to function EU-wide starting at the end of 2026. Until then, age verifications are going to be handled by a (compatible) digital attestation system if needed.

Source: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-age-verification

It seems quite solid: minimal id information for the service provider and no way for an attestation provider to track which sites you are showing the attestation to.


Last edited by emphy on 4 Jul 2025 at 2:30 am UTC

It seems quite solid: minimal id information for the service provider and no way for an attestation provider to track which sites you are showing the attestation to.

How they're doing it right at least once... ;)