The Australian government has published the results of a trial evaluating automated age verification tools for social media platforms, aiming to prevent users under 16 from accessing these services. While the trial shows that such technologies are possible, privacy, security, and accuracy issues persist, casting doubt on their full effectiveness.
As the deadline for enforcing the ban on under-16s looms in December, Australia’s report on age assurance technology has brought to the forefront key concerns about privacy, security, and fairness. The government hopes the technology will serve as a crucial tool to protect minors online, but experts warn that its implementation may not be straightforward.
Age Verification: Can Technology Get It Right?
According to the Australian government’s report, more than 60 age-assurance technologies were tested in a trial aimed at ensuring that these tools can correctly identify users’ ages without compromising privacy. The findings suggest that age verification can, in principle, be done using current technologies, and there are no significant technological barriers preventing the enforcement of age restrictions.
However, the report highlights one significant flaw: errors in age estimation are common, with inaccuracies of two to three years often occurring. For example, younger users might be mistakenly classified as 16 or older, allowing them access to platforms that should be restricted.
Conversely, some older teenagers could be flagged as underage, resulting in unnecessary restrictions on their accounts. These discrepancies pose a real risk to the reliability of the system, especially considering the diverse population of users and the nuances in how these tools function.
Furthermore, age-assurance tools have been found to perform less reliably with certain demographic groups. The technology tends to be more error-prone for young women and people with darker skin tones. These factors raise concerns about fairness and inclusivity, particularly if the system disproportionately impacts specific groups.
Privacy and Security: Risks Linger
The trial also uncovered significant concerns regarding privacy and data security. Experts have long raised alarms about the risks of using personal identification data for age verification, especially in light of recent large-scale data breaches affecting major companies.
The Australian report found “concerning evidence” that some age-assurance providers were building tools that could enable data tracing, further increasing the potential for misuse of sensitive information.
According to the report, the exact mechanics of how age verification will be implemented across social media platforms remain unclear. It is still uncertain whether users will need to provide government-issued IDs directly to these companies or if third-party digital ID systems will be involved. This uncertainty leaves many Australians concerned about the implications of providing such sensitive information online, especially given the potential for future data breaches.
As the implementation deadline nears, the Australian government has promised to release further guidance to clarify the requirements for both social media companies and users. Until then, questions surrounding the efficacy and safety of these age-verification tools remain unresolved.
