Paper: Looking at Age Assurance Practicalities
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Martin Thomson

A great many governments worldwide are enacting laws that seek to limit the ability of children to access content that is designated for adults only. At the most abstract of levels, this is a good thing. Some material requires maturity and experience to handle. It is worth ensuring that children are not exposed to things that they are insufficiently prepared for.

The challenge is in determining the right implementation; a question that has policy and technical aspects.

Any system that involves restrictions will unavoidably have some consequences for adults. This is appropriate, as protection of children is a social obligation shared by all. The difficult political question is then what costs — to factors like privacy and choice — are acceptable.

This brief looks at a much narrower question: given the technical solutions being developed in response to legislative efforts — or even those mandated in law — are there better alternatives?