Age assurance

An image of a man sitting in a darkened room and using his mobile phone.

France’s new age verification law: what it means for adult platforms and how to comply

Every month, 2.3 million minors in France access adult content online. In response, the French regulator Arcom has introduced strict new rules to ensure that only adults can access platforms with pornographic content. These measures, which come into full force on 11th April, aim to protect children while protecting the privacy of adults. In this blog, we answer some of the common questions about the new law and explore how our solutions can help platforms to comply.   What are the new rules from Arcom? In October 2024, Arcom, (Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority), announced new rules for

6 min read

Defining age verification and age assurance

Age is becoming an increasingly important focus for governments globally, with legislation being enacted across multiple states and countries. Our latest report looks at: The difference between age verification and age estimation Why self declaration is not age assurance The importance of balancing proportionality and privacy Download

1 min read
An image of a young girl using a laptop. The accompanying text next to the image reads “Children's Online Privacy Protection Act - United States”.

An overview of the COPPA updates (and what it means for your business)

The United States Federal Trade Commission has released its updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. It aims to strengthen key privacy protections for children online and better reflect the challenges faced in the modern digital age. The updates introduce stricter requirements for the collection, use and sharing of children’s data. However, it’s worth noting that the rule doesn’t include an explicit exception for the use of children’s personal information solely for age verification. This complicates compliance for platforms that wish to implement more robust age checking than self-declaration.  Yoti is ready to assist companies with

13 min read
Woman buying knife online

Age assurance for online knife sales

At the end of January, the UK Government announced they will introduce stricter age checks for online knife sales. Buyers will need to submit a copy of their photo ID, such as a driving licence, as well as proof of address, such as a utility bill. The same person who bought the knife will have to show ID again on delivery, and no knife packages can be left on the doorstep. These measures are part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, expected to be introduced in Parliament this Spring. While knife crime is a key focus of the

7 min read
Illustration of email based age estimation to determine if user is over 18

Verifying age with email address age estimation

As legislation increasingly serves to protect children online, businesses and platform operators require efficient and privacy-conscious methods to verify user ages. Email address verification is just one of these methods, leveraging email metadata to estimate a user’s age without collecting further personal information. This guide explores how email age estimation works, its reliability, regulatory compliance, and how it performs as a tool for businesses that wish to balance user experience and risk.   What is email address age verification? Email address age verification is a method of age assurance used by websites and online operators to determine

5 min read
An image of a woman who is looking at her driving licence. The accompanying text next to the image reads “Tobacco and Vapes Bill - United Kingdom”.

Understanding age assurance in the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill

In a significant move towards tightening regulations on tobacco and vaping products, the UK has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Originally introduced by the previous Conservative government, the Bill has now been reintroduced by the new Labour government, signalling bipartisan support. The Bill aims to create a “smoke-free generation” by gradually raising the age of sale for tobacco and vaping products every year until they are completely phased out across the UK.   What is the main aim of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? The Tobacco and Vapes Bill seeks to tighten the regulatory framework around tobacco and

7 min read