Age verification and online child protection

Miguel Zarraluqui at Veridas explains how to truly safeguard people from harmful content through age verification

 

Over the past two decades, digital content has proliferated at such a rapid pace that we have failed to keep its dark side at bay. As a consequence, 54% of children today are exposed to inappropriate and explicit adult content before the age of 13.  

 

Advanced technologies like generative AI, paired with the vast terrain of online platforms, have now made it harder than ever to ensure our younger generation is shielded from explicit material. This isn’t just about volume; it’s about the nature of modern content and the speed at which it propagates. 

 

Moderating such a vast array of content is like chasing a mirage, and it’s often impossible. Digital content and smart devices are everywhere, and children will be naturally exposed to them. So, how can we solve this critical and generational problem? The real answer might be more foundational: robust age verification. 

 

However, the path to a foolproof age verification system isn’t straightforward. It brings with it a maze of concerns, from data privacy to the nuances of consent. At the same time, the ever-evolving rules set by governments across the globe further complicate this endeavour.

 

It’s essential for businesses to not only understand these regulatory intricacies but also pinpoint the best technological solutions to integrate age verification seamlessly and effectively. 

 

Understanding the importance of age verification 

Age verification systems serve as a protective layer, deterring children from accessing content, products, or services that are beyond their maturity level, be it violent media, explicit content, or gambling sites. This necessitates platforms to not just set age parameters but also to ensure that they effectively verify and authenticate the age of their users, thereby minimising the risk of inappropriate exposure. 

 

Age verification methods vary in their levels of intricacy and effectiveness. At its most basic, businesses can deploy age gating, where users are prompted to input their date of birth or simply affirm their age by ticking a box. This rudimentary approach, however, is easily circumvented. If a user falsely claims to be older, the process can’t detect it.

 

Inadequate age verification capabilities pose grave risks to businesses, from the breach of age-restriction laws to significant damage to their reputation.  

 

Yet, the effectiveness of age verification isn’t solely dependent on the technology or method deployed. It is also reliant on robust regulatory guidelines that bolster its implementation. 

 

These regulations lay down the legal foundations for age verification and content filtration, creating an ecosystem where responsibility is the hallmark, and stakeholders are held to the task of protecting the young and vulnerable. Such guidelines do more than just promote compliance; they set forth clear benchmarks and standards that fortify the integrity and effectiveness of age verification practices. 

 

Navigating age verification regulations 

While regulations concerning age verification can sometimes lack universal definition or uniformity, businesses are still duty-bound to meet these regulatory requirements and protect vulnerable users. 

 

The U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is an established standard that requires parental consent for children under 13, while the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) also contributes to the global framework. Particularly noteworthy is the UK’s Online Safety Bill, set to receive royal assent in 2023, reflecting a new stride towards digital safety. 

 

The UK’s Online Safety Bill is committed to safeguarding children and teens from harmful online content, including adult material, self-harm triggers, and eating disorders. It signifies a renewed legislative drive towards the safety of all users in the digital realm. Upon approval, social media platforms operating in the UK will face stringent responsibilities to protect minors from harmful exposure or risk penalties equating to up to 10% of global annual revenue.

 

The recently updated bill also illustrates a resolve for quick enforcement of the established regulations, codes, and guidance. 

 

Moreover, the bill intends to establish higher standards for services that host or enable adult content. There is an explicit demand for the effectiveness of age verification or age estimation tools. New provisions underscore the importance of personal accountability, with top executives held directly responsible for child safety.

 

Though specific requirements may vary, the overarching goal remains uniform across regulations like COPPA, DSA, and the Online Safety Bill. Together, these rules encourage platforms to prioritise child safety through diligent age verification processes, reinforcing the collective endeavour to create a more secure digital environment. 

 

So, within this regulatory landscape, how should businesses approach age verification? 

 

Effective solutions to age verification  

For most businesses, identity document verification is a popular and effective method. This method ascertains the genuineness of legal documents, such as passports or driving licenses, to verify an individual’s age. 

 

Coupled with identity document verification is facial recognition technology. By analysing an individual’s facial features and comparing them with the provided document, this method further bolsters the accuracy of the verification process. Such technologies use an age estimation approach, wherein algorithms deduce an individual’s age based on discernible physical features.  

 

However, there are certain drawbacks to verifying a user’s age through ID verification and facial recognition. Age estimation algorithms need to rely on ID cards to provide an accurate estimation. This raises further privacy concerns, as users might often be reluctant to share their confidential documents.

 

Most importantly, these methods don’t provide a seamless user experience, as they often take some time or multiple attempts to complete the verification process.  

 

The most optimal approach for businesses is to use liveness detection technology with integrated age estimation capabilities. Liveness detection ensures that users are physically present during the process, preventing fraud through deepfakes or presentation attacks.

 

This method eliminates the need for ID cards and aligns with privacy considerations whilst still facilitating a rigorous verification process. This is particularly beneficial in regions with heightened privacy regulations, such as the US. It also provides a more seamless user experience, as the process is entirely carried out in real-time.

 

Overall, when it comes to the safety and security of children, every proactive measure should be considered. Guided by regulations like the Online Safety Bill, it’s pivotal that businesses invest in top-tier verification mechanisms, championing the cause of child safety in the digital era. 

 

---

 

Miguel Zarraluqui is Identity Lead at Veridas

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com