ITIF Pushes for Digital ID Over Age Estimation in Comments on EU’s Digital Services Act

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has submitted comments to the European Commission regarding the proposed guidelines for enforcing minors’ protection online as part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), underscoring the importance of creating a balanced regulatory framework that addresses online safety concerns without infringing on privacy, free speech, or parental rights.

In its submission, the ITIF appears to support the use of digital IDs for online age verification while expressing reservations about biometric age estimation methods. The ITIF highlights digital IDs as a secure and privacy-conscious solution, noting they could “allow users to only share necessary information,” such as confirming age without revealing sensitive personal data like a birth date.

This contrasts with biometric age estimation methods, which ITIF describes as “not perfectly accurate and likely never will be,” despite being less invasive than traditional ID checks.

The ITIF underscores the balance needed in protecting minors online while avoiding privacy infringements. In discussing age verification, it acknowledges that while methods such as AI-based estimation are “constantly improving,” they carry concerns about accuracy and the storage of personal data. Digital IDs, on the other hand, are seen as a more efficient and privacy-preserving option, reducing the need for users to upload images of themselves or physical documents.

ITIF also proposes a “trustworthy child flag” for parental control, which would allow parents to regulate their child’s online access without requiring invasive verification methods. This solution, ITIF argues, would enable privacy-friendly oversight without “forcing users to share their government IDs or allowing online services to link their online activity to their offline identities.”

Additionally, ITIF cautions against weakening encryption, emphasizing that it “helps protect vulnerable individuals,” including minors and marginalized groups. The foundation warns that creating backdoors or disincentivizing encryption could expose these populations to greater harm while bad actors seek out unregulated platforms.

The ITIF is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to formulate and promote policy solutions that accelerate innovation and boost productivity, ultimately spurring growth, opportunity, and progress. It has been ranked as the world’s foremost think tank in this field by the University of Pennsylvania.

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, who currently serves as its president, ITIF operates with a bipartisan leadership structure that includes former Republican and Democratic U.S. Representatives as co-chairs. Funding for ITIF comes from a diverse array of sources including corporations, charitable foundations, individual contributors, and some U.S. government agencies.

Despite being based in Washington D.C., the ITIF has compelling reasons to submit comments on the DSA. The DSA’s influence extends far beyond the EU’s borders, affecting the worldwide digital economy and tech industry. The ITIF has an interest in helping to influence digital regulations being developed internationally, potentially shaping policies that could become models for other regions, including the United States. In so doing, the ITIF can also represent U.S. interests and advocate for policies that might benefit American tech companies operating in Europe.

Source: ITIF

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September 27, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy