Online age verification: legal requirements and technological solutions to comply with regulations

Age verification is becoming an essential requirement

Streaming, social networks, online games, alcohol or tobacco e-commerce: many services require age control. Legislators, faced with the overexposure of minors to sensitive content, are now imposing strict age checks on businesses.

The risks targeted include in particular:

• Access to pornographic or violent content,
• Cyberstalking and insecure interactions,
• Addiction to gambling or lootboxes,
• Purchase of regulated products (alcohol, electronic cigarettes, games of chance),
• Abusive collection of personal data of minors.

Protecting minors is no longer just a good practice: It is a legal obligation.

Regulations that require age verification

In Europe, three main frameworks apply:

1. Digital Services Act (DSA)
   → Make platforms responsible for accessible content and impose stricter management of the protection of minors.
2. Sectoral regulations
   → Online games, the sale of alcohol and tobacco, audiovisual platforms must incorporate verifiable age controls when registering or before accessing the content.
3. Personal data protection (RGPD & RGPD-Kids)
   → Prohibits the collection of personal data from minors without verified parental consent.

The planned sanctions will significant fines up to the suspension of services.

Problem: how to verify age without harming privacy?

Traditionally, platforms use declarative systems — check box or manual date of birth — ineffective and non-compliant.

The main challenges are:

• Do not collect more data than necessary,
• Do not keep evidence that is compromising privacy,
• Guarantee a smooth and fast user experience,
• Ensure that the minor cannot bypass the mechanism.

Respect for privacy is becoming central to compliance.

The technological solutions available

1 ⚙️ Verification via identity document

→ The document is analyzed automatically, and only the “majority” information is validated.

• AI for authenticity control
• Biometrics to check face/document correspondence

2 📲 Authentication via digital identity wallet

→ Compatible with eID and tomorrow the EUDI Wallet (eIDAS 2.0)

• Cryptographic proof of majority
• No disclosure of other personal information

3 🔍 Biometric age assessment checks

→ Biometric facial analysis to estimate the age group

• Rapidity
• Supplement or alternative to the document

4 🔄 Hybrid controls and behavioral analysis

→ Adaptive systems according to risk and type of content

Why businesses need to act now

• Laws are getting tougher quickly
• The platforms are held chiefs Of the access of minors
• Penalties may include:
  • Fines up to 6% of global turnover (DSA)
  • Access restrictions and market withdrawals
  • Major reputational impact

More and more regulators are demanding:
✔ a check robust and verifiable,
✔ without excessive storage of personal data,
✔ and Frictionless for the user.

The benefits of a well-designed age verification system

• Regulatory compliance in international markets
• Reducing legal and financial risks
• Increased trust from users and parents
• Fluid onboarding adapted to modern uses (mobile-first, instant)
• A competitive advantage for responsible actors

How Dataleon can support compliance

Dataleon offers next-generation identity solutions that allow platforms to meet age verification obligations:

• Automated document analysis + multi-layer biometric control,
• AI anti-fraud detection,
• Fast and integrated processes via API or portal,
• Protected privacy : only the information that is strictly necessary is checked.

Dataleon helps businesses reconcile compliance, security, and better user experience.

Conclusion

Age verification has become a major digital compliance issue. Businesses need to meet strict regulations while protecting user privacy and ensuring a smooth experience.

Thanks to advanced technologies such as biometrics, artificial intelligence and digital identity wallets, platforms can now guarantee age verification that is reliable, secure and adapted to modern uses.

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