Challenges and Complexities of Age Verification on Social Media Platforms

A recent study on age assurance has concluded that while verifying the age of social media users is technically feasible, allowing platforms to choose their own methods could lead to inconsistencies. The study was commissioned by the federal government in preparation for a social media ban for children under 16. The research aimed to assess the viability of various age assessment technologies.

The study found that age can be assessed with a reasonable degree of confidence using various methods. However, it did not identify a single best approach and highlighted risks and shortcomings associated with all methods. The report emphasized that the implementation of age assurance depends on the willingness of major tech companies to enable or share control of the processes. Coordination among these providers is crucial for the success of any ecosystem-wide age assurance model.

The survey considered age assurance more broadly, not specifically evaluating the ban. However, the comments about dominant tech players are relevant because the ban will place the responsibility on social media platforms to verify user ages. Platforms will not be mandated to use any specific method. The government will reveal the "reasonable steps" platforms must take to comply with the ban, which may involve meeting accuracy standards or implementing privacy safeguards.

The report identified several technically possible methods, including formal verification using government documents, parental approval, and emerging technologies that assess age based on facial structure, gestures, or behaviors. Concerns regarding reliability and privacy were identified with all of these approaches. Age assessment technologies were less reliable for girls than boys and for non-white faces, and could not provide precise estimates, with an average error of two to three years.

The survey also identified third-party verification providers that could deliver reliable age assurance without storing much user data. The report alluded to the fact that large social media and tech platforms already had, or were developing, their own age assurance methods. However, the authors were unable to provide detailed assessments of these proprietary methods. The report noted that reliance on voluntary or proprietary measures by platforms leaves many children unprotected or inconsistently treated.

The report also considered approaches to prevent circumvention of age assurance methods, such as the use of virtual private networks and "deepfakes" of government documents or faces. While many providers were actively working to combat these circumvention methods, the report did not identify foolproof solutions. Experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of any method, with some predicting a "messy situation" with false positives and false negatives.