Age Verification: Balancing Child Protection and Privacy Risks

TL;DR

Governments and platforms are increasingly demanding age verification for accessing adult content, raising concerns about privacy and effectiveness. This article explores different age verification methods, their implications, and the ongoing debate about balancing child protection with privacy risks.

Main Content

With governments mandating age verification on websites featuring adult content and platforms like social media and Roblox implementing age-based restrictions, the debate surrounding various age verification methods and their implications is intensifying.

Roblox’s New Age Estimation Technology

Last week, Roblox announced a new age estimation technology designed to confirm users’ ages and enable a feature called Trusted Connections for users aged 13 and above. This feature allows teens between 13 and 17 to connect with adult users they know in real life, aiming to keep predators at bay. However, the technology raises concerns and questions about its effectiveness and privacy implications.

While Roblox has not disclosed details about how this technology works, existing age estimation processes typically use AI to scan selfies or short videos, comparing them to a database to estimate the user’s age. These methods are not foolproof and are vulnerable to deepfakes and spoofing.

Age Verification Methods for Adult Content

Starting this Friday, websites in the UK hosting pornographic content must implement “robust” age verification for users. The regulator, Ofcom, has listed several allowed methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

• Facial Age Estimation: Users take a selfie or short video, and an algorithm estimates their age. This method claims to keep data private, but facial scans are sensitive, and accuracy is not guaranteed.

• Open Banking: Users allow the age-check service to verify their age through their bank account. No bank statements are shared, only a yes/no confirmation of adulthood. This method is easy but may raise privacy concerns.

• Digital Identity Services: Users carry a digital ID, showing only the “over 18” status when needed. This method is convenient but requires an additional app.

• Credit Card Age Checks: Users present a valid credit card as proof of age. This method is quick but not universal, as not everyone over 18 has a credit card.

• Email-Based Age Estimation: The system deduces the user’s age from their email’s presence in other adult-related databases. This method involves digital snooping and relies on the user’s online history.

• Mobile Network Operator Checks: The system queries the user’s phone provider for age restrictions. This method is fast but only as reliable as the carrier’s data.

• Photo-ID Matching: Users upload their ID and a selfie for verification. This method is effective but requires sharing personal information.

Privacy Concerns

None of these methods are perfect or risk-free. Many raise privacy concerns, as highlighted by a commenter on BBC News:

“Sure, I will give out my sensitive information to some random, unproven company or… I will use a VPN. Difficult choice.”

VPNs are a popular option for bypassing location-based restrictions. They offer secure internet connections and can circumvent geographical blocks.

Double Anonymity Solutions

Efforts are being made to develop “double anonymity” solutions, which separate the information of two providers. The first provider (the website) only receives the user’s age, while the second provider (the age verifier) does not know the purpose of the verification. This approach is becoming a regulatory standard in places like France to balance protecting minors online with adult users’ privacy.

The concept of “double anonymity” seems more promising than “age estimation.” However, the crucial question remains: Is age verification an effective method for protecting children, or does it pose another threat to our privacy?

Conclusion

The debate surrounding age verification highlights the delicate balance between protecting children and safeguarding privacy. As technology evolves, so must the methods used to ensure both objectives are met effectively. The ongoing development of double anonymity solutions offers a potential path forward, but the conversation is far from over.

Additional Resources

For further insights, check:

• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN
• Ofcom Age Verification Guidelines
• BBC News on Age Verification