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Online age verification can be conducted effectively; however, a “one-size-fits-all” solution does not exist, according to a major study commissioned by the government as part of its social media ban.
But it also identified risks to privacy, potential bias and issues with accuracy, depending on the method used.
Underrepresentation of Indigenous populations, particularly First Nations and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, continues to be a challenge that vendors are beginning to address through dataset expansion and fairness auditing, the report found.
Age inference, which utilizes behavioural patterns, contextual data, digital interactions or metadata—rather than hard documents or biometric data—offers significant privacy benefits but requires tailoring to specific contexts and faces issues with bias.
The report examined technology from 48 different providers related to age verification, estimation, and inference, alongside a “waterfall” approach that employs multiple methods and parental-based options.
ACCS stressed it was “not a set of policy recommendations or endorsements for certain types of age assurance technology”.
From December 10, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other social media platforms will need to take reasonable measures to prevent Australians under 16 from accessing them.
Failure to do so could prompt fines of up to $49.5 million.
