Protecting Privacy with Facial Age Estimation Solutions

Buying Age-Gated Goods

 

Alex Vargas
College Student

 

 

Meet Alex

Alex is a 22-year-old college student with a vibrant social life who loves the convenience of online services and is always looking for the latest tech innovations to make his life easier and more secure. One day, while shopping at a local grocery store to purchase beer, Alex encountered something new at the self-checkout: Facial Age Estimation (FAE), a practical and time-saving solution for age verification.

Convenient and Ease to Use

A sign explained that FAE would estimate Alex’s age from a selfie without requesting personal details. The technology doesn’t store images or personal information, providing high privacy. Alex agreed to proceed, and the self-checkout camera captured his face. Within moments, the screen displayed his age estimate.

This privacy-friendly approach impressed Alex, who completed the purchase effortlessly. Later that week, while setting up a social media profile, Alex used FAE again for age verification, recalling the hassle-free grocery store experience and being reassured by clear communication about consent and image deletion.

Inclusivity and Privacy

Alex saw the benefits of FAE for friends without IDs or who value privacy. Alex also discovered that service providers developed the technology to ensure it worked accurately across ages, skin tones, and genders, with alternative methods available for those who preferred traditional means of age verification. And since FAE isn’t facial recognition, there were no worries about being identified or tracked.

The Benefits

Leading brands and services like Instagram and Facebook Dating use FAE to create secure, age-appropriate experiences while offering a practical, privacy-focused solution to age verification. Using FAE fosters a safe environment for users’ online experiences to prove age without compromising personal information – a step towards a more privacy-respecting future.

Relevant DIACC PCTF Components

Authentication | Infrastructure | Notice & Consent | Privacy

 

Connect with the DIACC to learn how we support building digital trust around this user story at info@diacc.ca.