Cinemas are bringing in 'digital ID cards' to prevent children watching scenes of sex and violence on the big screen. The UK Cinema Association, which represents 90 per cent of cinemas, is accepting a new ID app from Monday (May 30).
It confirms the age of a child to box office staff based on a previously uploaded official document such as a passport. The technology, developed by digital ID provider Yoti, will help cinemas fulfil their legal obligations to bar children from adult films and aid young cinema goers in proving their age.
The UK Cinema Association said it would be "safer and more convenient" and mean important ID documents such as passports could be left at home. It said it was a "modern solution" to help cinemas in checking ages.
To obtain the digital age ID app, the person has to prove identity with a document such as a passport then take a live picture to confirm. The digital ID card shows the verified photo of the individual and their age as over 18, 15 or 12.
Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association said: “Of the 165 million to 170 million admissions per year UK cinemas were seeing pre-pandemic, around 30 per cent fall within the 15-24 year old bracket and around 20 per cent within the 9-14 year old age group. Since cinemas re-opened last May those proportions are likely to be even higher.
"For many wanting to get into a ‘15’ or even ‘18’ certificate film, proving their age – without a passport or driving licence to hand – can be incredibly difficult and an understandable source of frustration should they be turned away from the cinema. This new partnership offers a straightforward and modern way to reduce the likelihood of that happening.”
Kelly Drew, operations director at Cineworld Cinemas, said: “With an increase in recent years in the number of films classified at ‘15’ but with a broader youth appeal, the issue of proving age is becoming increasingly challenging. The introduction of the Yoti app as a trusted and robust way of checking ID will support our staff, who are often on the receiving end of any resulting customer frustration."
Robin Tombs, CEO and Co-founder at Yoti, said: "Young people expect to be able to do everything with their phone and using it to prove their age will come naturally to them. It’s a win-win for both cinemas and young cinema-goers."
