Age assurance refers to methods used to identify the age of users online, and consequently ensure that children benefit from safe and age-appropriate experiences. Governments, the tech sector and children’s rights organisations are increasingly looking at age assurance as a key tool for providing a safe and beneficial digital environment for children. However, effectively implementing age assurance has proved challenging – especially given the cross-border nature of many digital services that children use. This report examines the complicated legal and policy landscape for age assurance online in OECD countries, aiming to inform the actions of policymakers and other key stakeholders. The report reveals that varying age limits exist in online safety, e-commerce and privacy laws. These limits also vary across jurisdictions. The report further finds that requirements for respecting age limits are not always spelled out in laws or otherwise lack specificity. Laws introducing age assurance requirements are being enacted at a fast pace, particularly regarding social media and online pornography. However, such provisions are further complicating an existing patchwork of laws, highlighting a need for more consistent and coherent approaches.
