Yoti’s age assurance technology is now being used to verify the status of players of Avakin Life, a large-scale multiplayer video game from Lockwood Publishing.
Verifying adulthood unlocks access to “exclusive age-restricted features” of the game, according to a statement announcing the integration. For example, a chat filter enabling interaction in the game, which is billed as a kind of Sims-style life simulator, will become less restrictive for conversations between players who have verified they are adults.
Players can confirm their age by uploading an image of an identity document, which is compared against their selfie image using facial recognition technology; or they can opt for Yoti’s age estimation technology.
“We wanted to introduce age verification to Avakin Life to offer our players more choice and freedom to express themselves, in a way that also safeguards our younger audience,”, explained Claire Panter, Avakin Life’s Director of Player Support. Panter said that Yoti’s technology enables “fast and easy” age estimation, adding, “It’s been fantastic to see such a positive response from the community.”
The integration marks another win for Yoti as it seeks to establish itself as a key solutions provider amid escalating scrutiny and regulation over the issue of what kinds of media content minors should be allowed to access on digital platforms. Earlier this year, Yoti, in partnership with SuperAwesome and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), petitioned the US Federal Trade Commission to approve the use of “Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation” technology in obtaining parental consent under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule.
More recently, across the pond, the United Kingdom’s parliament pass its controversial “Online Safety Bill”, which requires online publishers to implement age verification processes when granting access to sensitive content that is not appropriate for minors. That could lead to further business for Yoti going forward.
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November 16, 2023 – by Alex Perala
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