Australia Tests Hand Scan Technology for Age Verification as Part of Online Safety Push

According to Yoti’s claims, the system can estimate age with varying degrees of accuracy across different age groups: within 2.19 years for ages 6-12, 1.5 years for ages 13-19, and 1.36 years for those aged 20-60. The testing methodology has been validated by a UK government-approved auditor, using smartphone-captured footage from individuals across all age ranges.

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, emphasized that this technology is just one component of a larger strategy. “There is no silver bullet when it comes to age assurance and verification online – we need to look at a range of technologies,” she said.

The initiative comes as Australia prepares to implement strict social media age verification requirements, including a ban on users under 16 from accessing platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) by the end of 2025. YouTube has received an exemption from these restrictions, with the government citing its educational value.

This is not Yoti’s first venture into age verification in Australia. The company has previously provided age verification technology for online alcohol sales in the country, using AI and biometric recognition systems to create auditable age verification checks.

The hand scan technology remains in testing phase, with no organizations outside of Yoti having implemented it in real-world applications. The system’s privacy-centric approach estimates age without identifying individuals or storing personal data, addressing data protection concerns in digital identity verification.

Australia continues to develop its digital identity infrastructure through multiple approaches, including pilots of digital ID verification through its national Trust Exchange system.