Age-Verification Technology: A Closer Look at Australia’s Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 16
Age-verification technology, a critical tool for verifying, estimating, or inferring internet users’ ages, is under intense scrutiny with Australia’s recent ban on social media for individuals under 16. Set to be implemented in November 2025, this law mandates social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to verify users’ ages and prevent minors from accessing their services. However, key details such as defining “reasonable steps” remain elusive, leaving room for interpretation and debate.
Age-Assurance Technologies: A Global Experiment
Australia is gearing up to trial various age-assurance technologies next year, spearheaded by its eSafety Commissioner. This trial aims to establish crucial parameters and guidelines for the effective implementation of age-verification measures. The outcome of this trial is expected to influence similar countrywide bans worldwide, compelling platforms to adopt age-assurance technologies as a standard practice.
Industry Players and Innovations
Leading companies in this sector, such as Entrust, IDnow, Jumio, Veriff, and Yoti, are actively involved in developing cutting-edge solutions for age verification. Yoti, a prominent UK player, has confirmed its participation in the Australian trial, showcasing its facial age estimation tech, Digital ID app, ID document, and Liveness testing capabilities.
The Three Pillars of Age Assurance
Age assurance encompasses three distinct areas: age verification, age estimation, and age inference. While age verification confirms the exact date of birth of a user, age estimation provides a range, and age inference relies on corroborated information to determine a user’s age. These methods collectively aim to enhance online safety and protect minors from unsuitable content.
Furthermore, privacy concerns have emerged as a pivotal issue in the implementation of age-assurance technologies. Innovations in privacy-preserving methods have revolutionized age verification, ensuring data security and minimizing privacy risks for users. Third-party providers are now focused on delivering a yes/no response to age checks, significantly reducing the data shared with platforms.
The Future of Age Assurance
As the industry continues to evolve, new age-assurance technologies are expected to emerge, offering innovative solutions for verifying users’ ages. With lawmakers closely monitoring these developments, the industry anticipates a surge in age-assurance companies and technologies in the coming years, revolutionizing online safety standards and protecting vulnerable users from potential harm.
In conclusion, age-verification technology remains a critical tool in safeguarding minors online, with Australia’s ban on social media for kids under 16 setting a precedent for global regulations. As the industry adapts to meet evolving challenges, the focus remains on enhancing privacy, accuracy, and security in age-assurance measures for a safer online environment for all users.