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Age verification continues to be a hot topic in several regions and countries, including the European Union. The main question surrounding various solutions is whether age verification checks should be implemented to block access to certain content for (mainly) minors.
Critics argue that age verification systems have issues, including privacy issues, high implementation costs, that they may be ineffective and that there is potential for overreach and censorship.
The European Union is working on an open-source Android application for age verification that is part of a wider Age Verification Solution Toolbox that members of the EU may use to develop national age verification solutions.
The main purpose of the application is to “obtain, store, and present an age verification attestation” and “share the proof of age attestation with online services to gain access”. The current implementation is “developed solely for the purpose of demonstrating the business flow”, according to the description on GitHub.
This did not protect it from criticism leveled against the solution. The primary concern of users, at least judging on the GitHub repository, is the project’s use of Google Play Integrity API and Apple App Attestation for verification of apps and devices.
The two established services may look like good candidates for such checks initially. They are operated by the companies behind Android and iOS after all. However, both are operated by companies from the United States, which would further “deepen the EU’s dependency” according to one critic of the proposed system and put identity verification in the hands of a foreign corporation.
Furthermore, the system would only work with apps and devices that can be verified through Google Play or Apple’s AppStore, and require that users use Google or Apple accounts on their devices and accept the terms of service of the American companies. While most do that, it would certainly impact users who jailbreak their devices or use custom roms. It would also prevent anyone from accessing certain services, if they do not use an Android or Apple phone, or prefer not to use one for the purpose of age verification.
Another user pointed out that an identity verification app already exists that would fit many of the requirements. The Dutch-based Yivi application can be used for age verification and does not rely on Google or Apple for the functionality.
The issue remains open at the time of writing and new comments are added regularly to it. Whether that will impact development of the app remains to be seen.
Now You: what is your take on age verification on the Internet?