Understanding Age Verification and Age Assurance Methods

This report discusses the concepts of age verification and age assurance, addressing the challenges businesses face in verifying individuals' ages online. It outlines the advancements in age assurance technology, which is now seen as privacy-preserving, scalable, and cost-effective. The document distinguishes between age verification—where a person's age is confirmed against an external source—and age assurance, which employs various methods to estimate or infer age. It explains that age estimation can involve facial scans or behavioral patterns, while age inference relies on data signals to determine likelihoods related to age thresholds. The report also critiques traditional age verification methods, such as self-assertion, noting their inherent weaknesses and increasing regulatory demands for more effective alternatives. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for a balance between privacy and effective age checks, advocating for data minimization and user trust in the age assurance process. The findings are relevant for businesses, regulators, and governments involved in online age verification.