Steam enforces Australian age verification via credit cards — debit card glitches and low credit adoption alienate core gamers, privacy-first mindset leads to dearth of options that may hinder consumers
Valve starts enforcing Australian age verification law, but its privacy-minded choice of bank card as the only verification method is causing issues with many consumers.
On September 9, Australian gamers face a hurdle as buying games and apps now requires age verification. The law doesn't specify how this verification should be done, but it must ensure players are over 18. Valve is meeting this requirement by requesting credit cards instead of government IDs or biometric data. However, debit card support is inconsistent, causing frustration among users.
This issue is similar to the one in the United Kingdom. Valve's approach is commendable, as a credit card only connects a payment method to a name and address. In contrast, government IDs and biometrics pose more privacy risks. While credit cards can be issued to adults in Australia and the UK, debit cards can be held by minors and might not meet the adult-only criteria.
Debit Mastercards from certain banks work fine for Steam verification, but others from different banks fail the age check. The issue may change over time, so it's uncertain how this will evolve. The credit card ownership rates in Australia and the UK, which are lower than in the US, also impact the situation. Particularly, in the 18-24 age group, only a quarter to a third own a credit card – the segment that buys the most games.
Therefore, Steam may need to offer alternative verification methods for better user satisfaction and business purposes.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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