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The Need for Standardized Proof of Age Credentials in the Digital Age
Verifying age online is a critical need - from regulatory compliance to safety in the age of AI, Privado ID’s Proof of Age enables safety across the internet in a secure, privacy-preserving manner.
Privado ID is at the forefront of advancing these efforts in collaboration with the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF) and other industry leaders. Through partnerships with age verification credential issuers like Privately SA, Privado ID is advancing AI-driven age estimation technologies at scale.
The Importance of Proof of Age Credentials
The Internet has become a ubiquitous tool for education, entertainment, and social interaction. However, it is also a space where users can easily misrepresent themselves. Recent efforts, such as those in Australia to curb access to online media for minors under 16 – as well as legislation recently enacted by various US states – underscore the growing global focus on user protection.
Platforms hosting age-restricted content, whether social media sites, e-commerce platforms selling regulated goods, or gaming platforms with mature content, are obligated to ensure users meet age requirements. These measures enable safe and legal environments for users of all ages, protecting children from predatory behaviors.
“Age Verification and Estimation online is vital and there are several ways of achieving it. However if everyone has their own separate data format that will impact interoperability and the user experience. This is why our work at the Decentralized Identity Foundation to create standardized credential schemas helps the digital identity industry to stay coordinated and streamline adoption in online platforms.”
Otto Mora, Standards Architect at Privado ID
Traditional methods of age verification involve sharing sensitive personal information, often without the security of encryption, such as government-issued IDs or credit card details. Privado ID’s approach to Proof of Age relies upon zero-knowledge proofs, allowing users to share only the specific information required (in this case, that they are above a certain age) without exposing additional personal data to hacks and misuse.
Privado ID’s Role in Shaping Age Verification Standards
As an active member of the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), Privado ID spearheaded the creation of a standardized "basic person for KYC" credential schema designed to facilitate customers onboarding processes in Financial Services, DeFi and other sectors.
Privado ID has long been a proponent of privacy-first solutions, recognizing the critical need for reusable age verification credentials, and now also contributing to the development of standardized Proof of Age credential schema that can support both Age Verification and Age Estimation.
Interested organizations can join us at the public kickoff working session for this effort with the DIF on 28th January (registration link).
Collaborating with Technology Providers for Greater Impact
Privado ID understands that meaningful advancements in age verification require collaboration across the ecosystem. We have partnered with Privately, a company specializing in age estimation services, to scale state of the art capabilities with AI. Privately’s age estimation technology leverages AI to estimate a user’s age based on non-invasive inputs, such as facial analysis. When integrated with Privado ID’s standards aligned Proof of Age credentials, this capability can serve as an additional layer of verification, further enhancing the accuracy and reliability of age proofing.
This year, we will continue to incorporate other advanced methods of age verification into our growing marketplace.
Building Adults-Only Apps Safely
The implementation of Proof of Age credential schemas brings significant benefits to both Web3 users and to platforms. For users already engaged in the crypto ecosystem, Proof of Age credentials offer enhanced convenience. These credentials enable age verification directly through wallet connect compatible crypto wallets that integrate the Privado ID web wallet. In addition, using off-chain Proof of Age verifiable credentials is more privacy preserving than other approaches such as soul bound NFTs that reveal information about blockchain addresses publicly on a distributed ledger.
For Web3 platforms that have yet to implement compliance mechanisms, these credentials provide an efficient way to meet regulatory requirements without compromising their decentralized ethos. Privado ID is actively looking for web3 builders of adult / gambling platforms that want to participate in our pilot program to qualify for age credential grants, please contact us if you are interested. By integrating age verification through the Privado ID web wallet you can ensure your project is in compliance while maintaining a seamless user experience.
The Path Forward
As digital interactions continue to evolve, the demand for robust, privacy-preserving identity solutions will only grow. Standardized Proof of Age credential schemas represent a pivotal step in this journey.
Privado ID’s active involvement in the DIF and its collaboration with technology providers like Privately highlight its commitment to driving innovation in this space. By combining decentralized identity principles with cutting-edge zero knowledge proof technologies, Privado ID is helping to shape a future where age verification is both secure and user centric.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about how Privado ID can bring age verification solutions to your web3 project.
What’s Next?
