Australia Tests Biometric Age Checks to Restrict Teen Social Media Access

Australia has launched a groundbreaking trial of age verification technology as part of its plan to restrict social media access for users under 16, a key step in the country’s efforts to protect young people online.

The trial, announced this week, will evaluate various age assurance technologies to determine their effectiveness and readiness for implementation in Australia. The UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), a globally recognized authority in age verification systems, will lead the assessment process.

Identity verification company Incode Technologies has emerged as a key participant in the trial. The company’s solution uses biometric technology to estimate a user’s age through a selfie, completing the verification process in approximately three seconds while maintaining a reported 99.87 percent accuracy rate.

The initiative comes as Australia prepares to implement a nationwide social media ban for users under 16, scheduled to take effect in November. Recent data shows that approximately 1.3 million Australian children aged 8-12 currently use social media platforms, highlighting widespread violations of existing age restrictions.

The trial’s significance is amplified by growing international attention to digital age verification methods. ACCS has previously certified other age verification technologies, demonstrating the organization’s established expertise in evaluating such systems.

Privacy concerns remain a crucial consideration in the implementation of age verification technologies. Incode’s approach specifically addresses these concerns by processing age verification without storing personal information, though the company has faced previous scrutiny over its handling of biometric data.

The results of this trial are expected to inform Australia’s broader strategy for protecting young people online while establishing a potential model for other countries considering similar measures.

Sources: Security Brief Australia, KBI Media, TBS News

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March 20, 2025 – Ji-seo Kim