Age Verification in the European Union: The Commission's Age Verification App

a year ago

The European Commission is developing an age verification app based on digital identities to allow users to access age-restricted content.
The app will generate proof of age using methods like national eID schemes, physical ID cards, third-party apps, or age assessment through institutions.
Privacy and security are key concerns, with features like data minimization and unlinkability, but many protections are optional, such as Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs).
ZKPs offer a way to verify age without revealing exact details, but their implementation is not yet mature, raising privacy concerns.
The app may exclude marginalized groups, such as refugees, unhoused people, and children without IDs, limiting their access to digital services.
Biometric recognition for age verification risks discrimination, with higher error rates for certain ethnicities, genders, and people with disabilities.
Device-dependent verification methods could exclude those without personal devices, exacerbating digital divides.
Age verification mandates risk undermining privacy, data protection, and freedom of expression, making it crucial to advocate for alternative safety measures.

Hasty Briefsbeta