New Telegram Bot Uses Facial Scan to Verify User Age

[johnblockbuster]

Telegram has introduced a new bot called “Verify Your Age”, designed to confirm users’ age through facial scanning — likely in response to regulatory requirements in the United Kingdom.
What the Bot Does

The bot uses your device’s camera to verify age via facial recognition.

According to the description, no images or data are uploaded or sent to external servers — everything stays on your device.

It can detect and reject fake images, ensuring the scan is genuine and real-time.

The verification is a one-time process.

Why This Matters (Especially in the UK)

The bot was first spotted on a Telegram test server in July 2025. It likely helps the platform comply with UK regulations requiring age verification for access to adult-rated content (18+).

Earlier this year, sites like Reddit and Nexus Mods introduced mandatory age checks for UK users. Meanwhile, Rule 34 chose to block UK visitors entirely to meet compliance demands.

Would you be comfortable verifying your age using facial recognition in messaging apps? Or does this raise privacy concerns? Let’s discuss below.

[jacson4]

Telegram’s new age-verification bot via facial scan is rolling out now—first in the UK—to comply with local law. It uses on-device AI to estimate if a user is over 18. Importantly, no image leaves your device, nothing is stored or shared—just a yes/no age check.From a privacy standpoint, it’s a minimalist and compliant approach. That said, facial age-estimation algorithms aren’t flawless—they can misclassify based on lighting or demographics. It’s a step forward in moderation, but user consent and transparency must remain central.

[Nahid10]

This move marks a turning point for Telegram—traditionally privacy-first—adapting to regulatory pressures like the UK’s Online Safety Act. The age-estimation bot is optional, camera-based, and used only once. Verified mini-app and early tests show the scan never connects to servers—processing stays on your device.Still, this raises broader questions: Will similar systems roll out globally? Could this technology expand into broader identity functions beyond age checks? For now, it balances moderation with minimal data exposure—but the implications for Telegram’s future privacy model remain to be seen.