Age verification online is as old as the Internet. Since the early 1990s, webmasters have used a variety of methods to prevent minors from accessing age-restricted content and products. 

In the past, websites used age gates to limit access to age-restricted content. Of course, many legacy age verification systems aren't effective at limiting access.

However, that is changing. Modern online age verification systems go a step further.  

They've made it possible to verify a user's age in seconds with a high degree of accuracy. These new systems are helping websites stay compliant and reduce access to age-restricted content. 

Curious how an online age verification system works? Keep reading! You'll learn how online age verification works, legal concerns about it, and challenges businesses face.  

Online Age Verification: An Evolving Landscape 

If you sell age-restricted products or adult content, your website needs online age verification. Today, there are a variety of options available that help make websites and web stores more secure than ever.  

 Some of the most common options for protecting minors from age-restricted content include: 

 Document verification: Users upload a government ID to prove age. 

 Facial analysis: Modern age verification systems use AI algorithms to predict age. These systems use skin texture and bone structure to estimate the user's age online. 

 Databases: This method cross-references age data with public data like phone records and credit card details. 

 

Knowledge-based checks: These systems use passwords and security questions to verify users. The effectiveness of these questions relies heavily on their design.

Emerging Technologies 

Two technologies are at the forefront of modern online age verification platforms:  

AI 

In addition to analyzing facial features, AI also measures behavioral analytics. This is the process of studying a user's online behavior and content consumption patterns. With this data, you can set alerts if patterns change.  

 

Blockchain  

By implementing decentralized identity (DID) on blockchains, users can now control and manage their age-related information independently. This selective sharing with platforms not only enhances privacy but also significantly strengthens overall security.

Navigating Regulations

Websites have to meet several regulations if underage users visit their sites. The three most important rules to know include: 

  • Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the US: This law sets rules for safeguarding children (under 13) online. Websites that target this age group must obtain parental consent, limit data sharing, and provide clear privacy policies. 

     
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU: This regulation protects users' individual privacy and gives them extensive rights over their personal data. This impacts how verification systems handle and store information. 

     
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: This global treaty provides essential protection for children, including their safety on the Internet. This treaty serves as a basis for national and regional regulations concerning online age verification.  

The impact of these regulations on online businesses and platforms is major.  

Ensuring robust age verification systems and compliance with data privacy regulations can lead to various expenses in technology, legal expertise, and data management. 

To cater to different age groups and regional targets, platforms may need to put restrictions on specific content or services. This could potentially impact their audience reach.

Concern Surrounding Privacy and Protection

Finding the right balance between privacy and protection in the world of online age verification is not only important but also a challenging task. 

Offering this protection requires the sharing of personal data, which raises multiple concerns. 

  • Data concerns: OAV systems gather sensitive details, including names, birthdays, and facial features, leading to worries about potential misuse and unauthorized sharing. 
  • Surveillance impact: Continuous facial analysis methods may feel invasive, creating a sense of constant monitoring and undermining the user's privacy rights. 
  • Discrimination and bias: Age verification algorithms using factors like location or online behavior may disadvantage specific groups, prompting concerns about unfair judgment and exclusion. 

 Age verification systems can be responsibly designed to prioritize privacy and empower users. 

 Rather than storing personal details such as names, systems can use unique identifiers for verification. This way, there is less personal information stored. 

 Using strong encryption and storage protocols, conducting regular security audits, and transparently reporting data breaches can instill user trust and prevent unauthorized access. 

 Granting users the authority to determine what data is collected, how it's used, and with whom it's shared allows them to actively shape their online privacy.

Ethical Analysis

Ethical analysis is crucial when it comes to collecting and using data in online age verification. 

Here's how to go about it:  

  • Collect only the data needed for accurate age verification and avoid unnecessary accumulation of data. 
  • Clearly state the purpose of data collection and refrain from using the data for any other purposes without obtaining user consent. 
  • Let people know how their data is used, allow them to see their own data, and make it easy for them to report any privacy problems.

The Future of Online Age Verification  

The landscape of online age verification is continually changing due to the introduction of new technologies and the evolving expectations of users. 

Here are some top trends that are shaping the future of online age verification: 

  • AI-driven innovations: There can be a system that delves into user behavior and online interactions to deduce age more accurately, minimizing the need for explicit checks. Despite the complexity, this could streamline verification processes with greater ease and less intrusion. 
  • Advancements in biometrics: Moving beyond facial analysis, techniques like iris scans, voice analysis, and gait recognition could provide more precise and secure age estimation.  
  • Decentralized identity (DID): Blockchain technology has the potential to empower users by allowing them to manage and selectively share their age data with platforms through DIDs. This approach could bolster privacy, security, and user autonomy simultaneously. 

Conclusion

It is evident that online age verification is a complex and multifaceted issue. As technology continues to advance and shape our daily lives, it is crucial that we address the issue of age verification online. From protecting minors from accessing inappropriate content to preventing fraud and identity theft, implementing effective age verification measures is essential for the safety of individuals of all ages.