The know-your-customer (KYC) policy introduction into the online world has helped businesses build trust with their customers and to comply with regulatory requirements related to the countries they sell their products. 

In cases where there is an age restriction on certain products sold by businesses, the age verification system helps online businesses to verify the age of their customers.

Age verification is a system adopted online that regulates the purchase of restricted goods and services to underage customers. It helps to protect the customers from being fined due to illegal purchases and the vendors from being fined for selling restricted products to underage customers. 

What is an Age Verification System?

The age verification system is a precautionary measure taken to analyze an individual’s identity concerning their age and determine their eligibility to access a product or service. An example of such a product is Alcohol. Age can be verified through certificates of birth, credit cards, biometrics, or government sites. 

The age verification system for businesses mostly consists of the user interface, data collection, data gathering, processing of data, and verification of data. Businesses are usually thorough with verifications to avoid issues with regulatory bodies. 

Process of verifying age in Online Marketplaces

The process of online age verification begins when a user opens an account with the business. The form filled by the individual during account creation will highlight their age to enlighten the vendor on further actions regarding the accessibility of the products. 

Age can also be verified online through facial recognition. The facial recognition process involves the user either uploading a photo or capturing a live photo of themselves to evaluate their age. 

There are multiple processes involved in the age verification system. Most online marketplaces adopt one or more of the processes to verify the personal information provided by the user. External sources are also used by businesses to verify identities to enable them to protect their customers and comply with regulatory requirements.  

Technology is evolving and age verification systems are not left behind. There has been an upgrade in age verification service to enable the extraction of customers’ age through the personal documents they provide. 

Identity Verification Software

Identity verification software is a computer program that makes use of advanced technology. It is used by businesses to systematize the verification process of individuals. 

Common software used in identity verification software includes: 

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software: This software obtains data automatically from the personal identification information of users. The software makes use of image processing and text recognition techniques. 
• Identity Document Authentication software: This software uses available patterns to investigate the authenticity of identity documents. 
• Fraud Detection and Risk Assessment software: This software is used to detect abnormal behaviors in users by monitoring user behavior and data.
• Biometric Verification Software: This software captures and verifies the unique input of users’ biometrics and compares the data with the existing database.
• Facial Recognition software: This software extracts images from the database and compares them with the facial characteristics obtained from the users. 
• Remote Identification Software: This software is used to verify a user’s identity (facial recognition, identification documents) remotely through computers and phones. 

These tools in identity verification software are important to facilitate the smooth running of the program.    

Identity Verification Solution

The services being provided by age verification systems are advanced and it is important to protect users from third parties. It is also important to obtain correct information from users that is not forged. 

Identity verification solutions have been made available to enable the smooth running of identity verification software. Some of which are:

• Knowledge-based verification: In this verification, discrete questions are presented that can only be answered by the valid user. The questions could be from their childhood experience, their family, or financial transactions. The data provided is verified with the stored data in the database to verify the identity of the user.
• Document verification: This process will involve an external source to check the validity of the documents provided and juxtapose the provided details with the referenced database.
• Biometric verification: Biometrics to be checked include fingerprints, faces, and eyes. The biometrics of the user are collected and compared with previously collected data.
• Identity Verification services: Their services include but are not limited to an extensive database to verify personal identity documents, conduct face recognition and perform background checks to validate the identity of the users. These verification services are provided by identity verification companies.
• Social Media: Some companies leverage the information found in public databases to validate the identity of their users.

How to Protect a User’s Privacy During Online Age Verification

The advantages of online age verification cannot be overlooked. It helps businesses to meet legal and regulatory requirements, but the process involved in online age verification can expose a customer to cyber attacks. 

Several solutions have been made available to protect users’ privacy. These solutions are hinged on business owners to protect their customers.

• Collection of the minimum amount of data. Age verification systems should not ask for sensitive information that is not needed to verify the age of users.
• Use secure transfer protocols like HTTPS to transfer data between the user’s device and the verification system to ensure the data is secured and encrypted from cyber attacks.
• Seek the consent of users on the required data needed for extraction and be transparent in each step to build trust. Privacy policy agreements explaining the storage of user data should be established to uphold the standard security of data protection.
• Employ the service of third-party age verification service with robust security measures to protect users’ data. Ensure their services can be trusted and comply with data protection regulations.   
• Users should be given the free will to control their data and opt out when they do not feel comfortable. The user interface should be simply designed to enable users to navigate around their data control.
• Systematic security audits should be carried out on the age verification systems to check and eliminate risks against the privacy of the users.
• The process involved in age verification should comply with data protection laws. Get familiar with the laws involved in the country your business operates and integrate the necessary measures.
• Set up a system where users will communicate about their insecurities and you provide solutions to reassure them of their data safety. 
• The retention of data should be limited to the duration of use. Consider deleting the data once the age verification is done to prevent leakage of information.

Users should look out for the privacy policy documents of online businesses and study them to understand data storage and usage of the business. 

Putting in place personal measures will enable users to protect their identity information. Personal measures that users can put up to enable them to protect their privacy are two-factor authentication and three-factor authentication. 

These authentications can be used to protect the privacy of users from cyber attacks. Businesses should advise their customers to enable these authentications and also adopt them. 

Conclusion

Users’ identities can be legitimately verified through an age verification system by online businesses. These systems also help businesses to know their customers better. The age verification system is built to comply with legal requirements and should not be abused for other purposes.

During online age verification, business owners should build transparency with their customers by equipping them with the authority to decide how their data will be used and stored.

Also, online businesses can build trust by showcasing their business verification certificate. Unverified businesses should seek the guidance of a business verification service to enable them to verify their online business.

These tools have been made available to encourage online businesses and enable them to know their customers and for customers to know their businesses. So, businesses should leverage these tools to promote ease in the online marketplace. 

Lucas Noah

Administrator

With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more