Opinion by: Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, CEO of Concordium
The recent initiative to safeguard minors from adult content is crucial. Currently enforced in the UK, this momentum is also being seen in other European regions and the US, which are adopting similar restrictions.
However, as websites implement age verification systems, challenges have emerged. Users often either evade the verification process or seek non-compliant providers, leading to the ongoing risk for minors as these systems are not being embraced.
The current identity verification protocols are inadequate. Adult users require assurance of their identity protection, while minors must be restricted from access. Methods like photo uploads or credit card validation are outdated and insufficient. A solution that merges anonymity with verified identity is essential.
A good intention with poor execution
It’s vital to acknowledge laws like the Online Safety Act, as the internet makes inappropriate content readily available to minors. With over 50% of children exposed to harmful content online, protective measures are imperative.
The challenge lies in execution. Existing age verification measures have prompted users to find ways around them, evidenced by an 1,800% increase in VPN downloads, indicating that users of all ages are attempting to bypass the verification protocols.
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This situation serves no one. Websites cannot assure that minors are refrained from accessing their content, undermining online safety regulations. As users seek to dodge age verification via compliant platforms, they are more likely to turn to less reputable options, increasing their risk of security and legal issues.
Integrating privacy with verification
Why are individuals avoiding verification even when they are of legal age? The answer revolves around privacy. Adults need to trust that their identity is secure. Current age verification techniques, while claiming to offer anonymity, often require sensitive information like photos or credit card details, raising significant concerns.
These verification methods remain vulnerable to hacks, extortion, and public exposure. Even the most secure systems, whether from large retailers or mobile providers, can be compromised. As adult content sites increasingly rely on identity verification, they become major targets for cyberattacks. Regardless of the safeguards in place, it’s only a matter of time before an attack breaches the system.
Keeping age verification personal
Here, Web3 technologies offer a potential solution. A balance between privacy and identity verification is necessary. A blockchain framework can maintain restricted access while safeguarding user privacy.
This requires users to authenticate their identity through a verified provider. Their verified status is then cryptographically linked to their blockchain address rather than their name or photo, utilizing zero-knowledge proofs. This approach allows identity verification across various services without third-party access to the data.
Users can confirm they are over 18 without exposing their personal details to the platform they are engaging with. This model extends beyond adult content, applicable to areas like gambling and trade finance. Since the individual’s identity verification exists separately from the blockchain, users are not sharing their personal information externally. Verification is streamlined, while users are reassured of their data’s security.
Finding private compliance
If necessary, protocols can ensure user identity can be traced. In the event of legal investigation, measures can be established to link a blockchain account to the verified identity, enabling accountability for wrongdoers. Employing blockchain-based identity verification can balance privacy for compliant users and accountability for those with malicious intent.
Clearly, age verification is essential in a time of abundant unregulated content. However, persuading users to accept new processes will be difficult if they rely on outdated approaches. Utilizing blockchain technology isn’t about circumventing age verification or opposing the wider issue of online safety. Instead, it aims to develop a more effective method that facilitates user acceptance of these new requirements.
The current wave of regulation shows that digital anonymity and safety can coexist. Upholding both necessitates reimagining online identity, not as a mechanism for surveillance, but as a selective, user-controlled signal.
To enhance the internet experience, governments and businesses must go beyond minimal compliance and create systems that align with how people wish to interact online: securely, privately, and with autonomy.
Opinion by: Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, CEO of Concordium.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
