Age Verification

Definition

Use of digital certificates to prove age for access to age restricted resources or products.

Context

• Age Verification Providers Association Maintaining high standards in age verification
• decalogue-principles-age-verification-minors-protection.pdf (aepd.es)
• https://www.aepd.es/guides/decalogue-principles-age-verification-minors-protection.pdf

Problems

Not like other ID standards

2024-10-04 The EUDI Wallet was not meant for age assurance: AVPA

legal trouble

It is typically the sales personnel and the shop owner that are penalized if the Age Verification fails:

Selling age-restricted products to a minor may result in criminal charge(s) being filed against the person who sold! Reference RCW 66.44.270 and RCW 26.28.080

What does this mean to the employee?

• You may be placed under arrest and charged with a criminal offense.
• You may have to obtain a defense attorney to defend yourself.
• You may have to appear in court.
• You may be fined or imprisoned.
• Your may lose your job.

https://lcb.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Alcohol_Education/Working%20Copy-%20RESPONSIBLE%20Age%20Resticted%20Products%20SALES%20-%20JULY%202019%20(002).pdf

Solutions

• 2024-10 The AVPA responds to Drew Harwell’s article in the Washington Post. https://avpassociation.com/news-release/the-avpa-responds-to-drew-harwells-article-in-the-washington-post/
• AVPA - The Age Verification Providers Association - Standards for Age Verification
• 2024-05 IEEE 2089.1 Standard for Online Age Verification was published in May 2024, the result of over two years of deliberation by a working group of industry experts from around the world. Which costs $77 just to even read. Unclear how a threat model would be possible.
• https://events.ringcentral.com/events/global-age-assurance-standards-summit/registration
• On 2024-04-12 at the Global Age Summit, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published independent Face Age Estimation vendor results which likely provide clear, scientific evidence that:

1. almost all parents of 14-15 year olds (likely to be aged 29+) can prove they’re over 25
2. most adults can prove they’re at least 16 without needing to submit names, DoBs, address info or govt photo ID to social media sites.
3. Yoti FAE is a popular age check method chosen by Americans (& individuals globally) when offered on porn sites, social media sites, #tobacco, #vaping sites & #gaming sites. These are facts - backed by scientific data which regulators can check with many businesses offering a range of Yoti age check methods.

• Age Check Verification Scheme

UK

• response to UK gov't 2024-04-04