AI celebrity hotline requires video selfie and live emotion tracking before each call
An AI character named Tilly Norwood, who gained attention after a live TV glitch, operates a video call service that verifies callers' ages via a facial scan and continuously analyzes their expressions and voice tone to gauge mood. The service, run by UK firm Xicoia Ltd, states the scan is mandatory and cannot be disabled, with data processed by third-party providers and calls recorded. The offering is scheduled to shut down permanently on September 27, and the company has added new safety systems and usage restrictions this month.
The service requires a mandatory video selfie processed by Spanish firm Didit for age estimation, with a government ID as backup. Xicoia states no biometric template is created and the selfie is discarded after verification, retaining only an approximate age band. The company cites legitimate interests rather than user consent as the legal basis for both the age check and continuous mood analysis.
Pricing starts with five free minutes, then £0.99 for a five-minute starter pack, £13 for 15 minutes, or £22 for 30 minutes, capped at 35 purchased minutes per person. All minutes expire when the service permanently shuts down on September 27. Transcripts are kept up to eight weeks, and the AI retains conversation memory that users can request to delete.
This service could normalize continuous biometric monitoring as a routine condition for entertainment, potentially desensitizing users to surveillance in everyday digital interactions. The mandatory mood analysis and face scanning may particularly affect younger callers and privacy-conscious individuals, who could face pressure to accept invasive data practices simply to access popular content. The short lifespan and UK regulatory alignment suggest such features may become standard in future AI companion products, raising questions about consent, data retention, and emotional manipulation that society may need to address as these technologies spread.