Verifymy & k-ID partner to boost online age checks for children
Verifymy, a UK-based digital safety technology provider, has entered a partnership with compliance specialist k-ID to enhance age assurance for online platforms serving children and teenagers. The agreement sees Verifymy's email-based age verification technology included in k-ID's Compliance Developer Kit, offering developers an additional method to comply with evolving global online safety regulations.
Compliance context
The partnership comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of online safety for children. Authorities around the world are introducing stricter requirements for age checks. The UK's Online Safety Act now compels platforms hosting or sharing adult content to implement age checks. In Australia, a ban on social media use by individuals under 16 is scheduled to begin, with New Zealand preparing similar rules. US courts have also upheld state-level age verification laws, underscoring the international momentum towards mandatory age assurance.
Email verification
The email-based age check method utilises the digital footprint associated with a user's email address to infer their likely age. This involves cross-referencing past email use with financial institutions, mortgage providers, and utility companies. Major online platforms have already adopted this approach, citing speed, minimal user inconvenience, and privacy considerations.
According to industry data, email-based methods have become the preferred choice of 56% of UK users seeking age verification, as they do not require scanning of ID documents. The system is designed to be scalable and user-friendly, enabling platforms to meet compliance requirements while addressing privacy concerns.
Developer toolkit
k-ID's Compliance Developer Kit integrates Verifymy's email-based age checks, enabling online service providers to select from multiple age verification options that suit their users and regulatory requirements. The toolkit is designed for businesses, including game developers and social platforms that cater to young audiences.
By combining various verification methods, k-ID aims to help clients adapt quickly to evolving legal regimes and minimise friction for end-users. The company has previously collaborated with ConnectID, owned by Australia's largest banks, to develop compliance solutions for the forthcoming Australian legislation.
Industry response
"Email-based age checks are an effective and highly pragmatic choice for any platform needing to determine the age of its users. They are a quick and fully inclusive method to infer users' ages with minimal friction. These checks also feel less intrusive, using readily accessible data like an email address that users are typically happier sharing than other personal details. Our partnership with k-ID is a natural next step in our commitment to helping websites and tech companies create age-appropriate experiences for their younger users," said Andy Lulham, Chief Operating Officer, Verifymy.
Kieran Donovan, Chief Executive Officer at k-ID, highlighted the benefits for developers and end-users. "At k-ID, we're focused on helping platforms meet global online safety requirements in ways that are both effective and user-friendly. Partnering with Verifymy adds another innovative, privacy-respecting method to our Compliance Developer Kit, giving developers even more choice in how they build trusted, age-appropriate experiences for their users."
