Online Age Verification Systems and Software
Age verification is essential for brick-and-mortar businesses as well as online enterprises. Along with other methods of identification, these verification tools can protect minors from access to harmful content or substances and can minimize legal risks for businesses. Modern age verification tools can make it simpler to determine the real identity of those behind a keyboard, a phone or standing in front of a counter in a retail establishment.
A variety of methods have been used to verify age and identity both in person and online. Some of the most common methods for age verification are listed here:
- Checking identity documents may include asking to see a driver’s license, a passport or another document that provides information on the holder’s age. In the online world, this may require the customer to upload this information or to submit to a background check to verify their identity and their age.
- Estimating age can be done on an individual basis through in-person screenings or by using age estimation algorithms that assess the appearance of an individual. Although these technologies are improving, they are still unreliable and can present real compliance issues for companies.
- Age gating is one of the least secure methods for online age verification. It essentially operates on the honor system, in which users self-report their own age or date of birth. Age gating is extremely unreliable as a method for verifying age or identity.
Today, biometric and facial authentication systems are the state of the art in identity and age verification. Working with age verification companies that offer these advanced tools can allow your business to stay on the right side of the law when offering age-controlled services and products in the online environment.
Why Is Verifying Age Online Necessary?
Regulatory requirements specify that certain products and services should not be made available to minors. The Hill notes that many large tech companies are implementing biometric age verification tools to comply with government regulations, including the following:
- The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without verified parental consent.
- The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act was enacted in 2010 and prohibits the online sale of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes to minors.
- The Digital Economy Act of 2017 created strict new requirements for UK companies to verify the ages of those accessing adult-oriented content on their websites.
- Know Your Customer is a framework required for investment and financial firms to prevent unauthorized access to financial accounts and sensitive data.
- The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) also prohibits targeted advertising aimed at minors.
Staying in compliance with these regulatory requirements is essential for companies that operate online and that offer age-restricted products or services as part of their business model. Failing to remain in compliance with these regulations can result in fines or, in some cases, a government shutdown of the entire business.
If your company operates in the cannabis, tobacco, alcohol, vaping or gaming industries, implementing a robust age verification system is the best way to protect your organization from regulatory risks. The right age verification software can protect minors from accessing your products and services while keeping your company on the right side of government regulations.
How Does Online Age Verification Work?
Depending on the method chosen, age verification apps collect specific information about consumers to verify identity and age. Personally identifiable information may be requested and compared with credit records or other public records. Biometrics and facial recognition systems go one step further and request a live selfie that can be compared to public records and other information. These technologically advanced age verification systems reduce the chance that minors could potentially access age-restricted items and services through your online platform.
Why Choose Biometrics and Facial Recognition Age Verification Systems?
In a recent sting operation, the state of Texas found that underage individuals were able to order alcohol online successfully two out of nine times attempted. Similar issues have been reported for cigarette and e-cigarette purchases in the online environment. These situations highlight the challenges facing companies that must implement online age verification to serve their customers safely and within the bounds of the law.
By upgrading to the most advanced age verification solutions, companies can reduce their potential liability for making sales or allowing access of controlled services and products to minors. This can add up to improved compliance and enhanced risk management for your company.
Internal Processes That Require Robust Age Verification Services
Even for companies that do not sell age-restricted goods and services, many customer interactions and internal activities can be enhanced with the use of identity and age verification software. Some of the most common activities and workflows that may require online identity and age verification include the following:
- Approving wire transfers and financial transactions
- Onboarding of new employees and new customers
- Implementing fraud prevention activities
- Validating work authorization status
- Approving prescription requests
- Adhering to anti-money-laundering regulations
- Managing cryptocurrency wallets
Investing in the most advanced and functional age verification system for your business can streamline many of these activities and can ensure that you know the identities of your customers and your staff members alike.
What Kinds of Businesses Need Age Verification Services?
Online age verification is required for a number of different industries and business models:
- Financial institutions must use rigorous methods to ensure security and to determine the identities of their customers. This is necessary because of anti-money-laundering regulations and Know Your Customer requirements. In general, biometrics and advanced facial recognition systems can be part of identity and age verification for banks, investment firms and financial institutions. Implementing robust cybersecurity and user identification methods can reduce regulatory risks for companies in the financial sector.
- Online dating services could be held liable for underage use of their platforms. Age verification using facial recognition and biometrics can reduce the chance of minors accessing these services, which can reduce risks to the platform’s reputation and to its financial bottom line.
- Notary public services and other e-signature platforms also require age verification apps that can definitively identify individuals for legal purposes. Working with a company that provides these types of age verification services is often a practical step in the right direction for notaries and legal professionals.
- Investment trading companies must verify the identities of clients before executing their buy or sell orders. Dependable identity and age verification tools are necessary to comply with federal regulations and to ensure that all transactions are properly authorized before they are submitted and executed.
- Pharmacies must safeguard confidential medical information on behalf of their customers while ensuring that controlled substances are released only to the appropriate patients. Identity and age verification systems are essential to remain in compliance with HIPAA requirements and to avoid releasing information or medications to the wrong individuals.
- Healthcare professionals in private practices, clinics and hospital settings must also adhere to HIPAA requirements. By implementing an identity and age verification system that uses biometrics and facial recognition, your healthcare company can prevent unauthorized access to confidential information and can avoid fines and penalties associated with failing to maintain proper security for this data.
- Travel agencies can also avoid issues with customer confidentiality by using an age verification system to ensure proper identification for bookings and travel arrangements.
- Companies that sell firearms and ammunition must use strong age and identity verification methods to prevent the sale of these items to minors in the United States or in many other locations around the world.
- Online vendors that sell alcohol, cannabis, tobacco or other age-restricted products must verify the ages of their customers to stay in compliance with state laws regarding the purchase and consumption of these products.
- Companies that offer online services, including Apple, Microsoft, Twitter/X or Google, must also implement online age verification tools to ensure that users are of the appropriate age for the content they will be accessing.
- Sites that offer adult content are also responsible for verifying the age of their users. Failing to do so could result in significant legal consequences for these adult enterprises.
- Customer support professionals can also use advanced identity verification systems to ensure that customers are who they say they are in online chats or on the phone. Online user verification tools make it much easier to provide the right customer service and support for your clients.
Nearly every business needs the added protection provided by age verification software. Companies that specialize in age verification services can deliver the right guidance and support in implementing the best solutions for your company’s unique set of needs.
Why Your Company Needs Reliable Online Age Verification
Enlisting the help of trusted age verification companies to implement a system that works for your business can provide real benefits for your organization. Some of the most important reasons to consider the services of age verification companies are listed here:
- Reducing the risk of identity fraud
- Protecting your company’s good reputation
- Managing risk and liability
- Staying in compliance with age verification requirements
- Boosting your security stance when dealing with confidential or financial information
- Protecting minors from adult-only content and products
Age verification companies can provide the right software, tools and apps to keep your company on the right side of the law and to protect your corporate reputation. Selecting the right age verification system can be challenging, however. Knowing what to look for when choosing age verification software can help you make the right decisions for your business operations.
Characteristics of the Best Age Verification Apps and Tools
Some of the most important selling points for identity and age verification tools include ease of use, robust authentication, responsive customer support and the ability to perform age and identity verification online.
- Ease of use: If your system is not easy to use, your staff members are less likely to make it part of their everyday workflows. Choosing a system that has an intuitive design and is easy to use will typically ensure the most consistent use of your age verification software.
- Strong authentication and security: Maintaining a strong security posture is essential to protect data and to make sure that the verification process poses no additional risks to your customers, clients, patients or staff members.
- Responsive customer support: Ensuring that your age and identity verification system is fully operational at all times can allow you to manage onboarding, customer identification and compliance activities much more easily. The right support can make a big difference in the overall success of your implementation.
- Online capabilities: The ability to verify age and identity online is a key factor for many companies in choosing the right verification solutions for their business operations.
At authID, we deliver unparalleled ease of use, superior security, the best support and robust online capabilities that set us apart from other age verification companies. Our team is committed to the highest standards of identity verification for our clients. We work with your company to provide the most advanced and effective age verification services tailored to suit your needs.
Why Choose authID?
The age and identity verification experts at authID can provide you with the right solutions for all your age and identity verification needs. Our biometric identity platform is patented and easy to integrate with other systems, which makes it a great choice for your business and for your current and future needs. By establishing a biometric root of trust for each user, we make it easier to “know who’s behind the device” and to prevent cybercriminals from gaining a foothold in your online systems.
To learn more about our age and identity verification services or to schedule a consultation with the authID team, Passwordless Authentication
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