> half the websites I visit from the UK want me to either scan my face or upload ID documents to access their full featureset.

what kind of websites are you visiting to get age checked on half of the sites you visit? i've only been asked to verify for dating apps and "sexy stuff". and i definitely don't spend 50% of my total browsing time on those sites.

maybe this says more about the kind of content/sites you're accessing if it is really as high as 50%? UK age verification mostly only applies to sites which might end up hosting the content quoted below.

> pornographic images, and content that encourages, promotes, or provides instructions for eating disorders, self-harm, or suicide.

or you're just being hyperbolic? 79% of statistics are made up, after all.