What’s the News?
Yoti’s age-verification breakthrough
British digital identity firm Yoti has announced that its “MyFace” single-selfie passive liveness age-verification technology has become the first of its kind in the world to achieve the highest global testing standard (Level 3) set by independent biometric lab iBeta. This benchmark confirms very strong resistance to fraud tactics like masks, deepfakes, or fake images. (UKTN)
Yoti says this means its system can now verify someone’s age from just one selfie more securely and reliably than before — helping platforms know if a user is above or below an age threshold without storing or identifying other personal details. (UKTN)
At the same time, Yoti confirmed it has now completed over 1 billion age checks worldwide using a mix of methods — including facial age estimation, digital IDs, and document checks — showing the scale and real-world use of its technology. (Yoti)
Why Now? UK Policy Context
Online Safety Act & age checks
The UK’s Online Safety Act, which came into force in July 2025, requires online services — including social media, gaming, and content platforms — to implement robust age-assurance measures instead of simple “I’m over 18” tick boxes. Platforms must protect users, especially children, from harmful or inappropriate content. (McAfee)
Facial age estimation and other methods like credit card checks or ID document verification are among the options platforms can use to meet these obligations. Yoti’s technology is used by a range of services and is considered compliant with these rules. (Yoti)
Under-16s social media debate
Separately, UK ministers are exploring proposals similar to Australia’s social media ban for users under 16, where platforms would be legally prevented from allowing accounts for children under that age. Reports say policymakers are studying the impacts of this kind of prohibition and whether to adopt parts of that approach in the UK. (identityweek.net)
This debate is driven by concerns about children’s mental health, safety, screen time, and exposure to harmful content online — issues raised in ongoing policy discussions as part of online safety reforms. (McAfee)
Case Studies & Deployments
Independent Testing & Standards
- Level 3 iBeta certification: Yoti’s facial age verification system passed the top tier of global biometric testing standards, reflecting high resistance to spoofing and fraud. (UKTN)
Real-World Application
- 1 billion+ age checks: Yoti has processed more than one billion age checks across sectors such as social media, adult content, retail, dating and gaming platforms — underlining the scale and trust in its technology. (Yoti)
Reaction & Comments
From Yoti and Industry
- Yoti’s CEO Robin Tombs highlighted that the milestone is backed by independent testing evidence and sets a new standard for high-assurance age verification, especially as regulators consider tougher rules for protecting younger users. (UKTN)
- Industry commentators see the certification as an important step in building trust for digital age checks, which helps platforms and regulators justify using privacy-focused biometric methods instead of invasive identity collection. (Yoti)
Broader Digital Safety Debate
- The UK’s Online Safety Act is already in place and emphasizes preventing under-age access to harmful material with “highly effective” age checks. Some campaigners and lawmakers are now questioning whether age verification alone is enough, advocating for stronger measures such as banning under-16s from mainstream social platforms entirely — a debate that’s ongoing. (McAfee)
Summary
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Yoti milestone | Achieved top biometric testing standard (iBeta Level 3) for selfie-based age checks. (UKTN) |
| Usage scale | Over 1 billion real-world age checks completed globally. (Yoti) |
| UK safety rules | Online Safety Act requires robust age assurance for online services. (McAfee) |
| Policy debate | UK govt. considering proposals to ban under-16s from social media like Australia. (identityweek.net) |
Here’s a detailed case-study–style summary and comments/reactions related to Yoti’s major age-verification milestone, placed against the backdrop of UK policy discussions about banning under-16s from social media — breaking it into clear parts so you can see the real-world context and responses:
Case Study 1 — Yoti’s Age-Verification Milestone
What Happened
- Yoti, a British digital identity and age-verification company, announced that its single-selfie passive liveness biometric age-verification tech (often referred to as MyFace) has achieved the highest global testing standard (Level 3) from independent biometric lab iBeta. This means it has passed rigorous testing to resist fraud attempts like deepfakes, masks or other spoofing methods when determining a person’s age from a selfie. (UKTN)
- The milestone comes as governments and platforms face pressure to verify users’ ages more robustly — especially in light of policy debates such as an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s being discussed in the UK. (UKTN)
Scale & Usage
- Yoti has now completed over 1 billion age checks across all its methods (including facial age estimation, Digital ID wallets and document checks), showing real-world adoption in multiple industries — from social media and retail to adult content and gaming platforms. (Yoti)
- This milestone reflects both scale and trust from businesses that need to comply with safety laws like the UK’s Online Safety Act. (Yoti)
Real-World Deployments Highlighted by Partners
Social media platforms
- Some major platforms (including Instagram and TikTok) are expanding age assurance tools using Yoti’s technology to better identify and handle under-age accounts. (Biometric Update)
- These systems combine facial age estimation with other methods (like credit card checks and scanned IDs) to match regulatory requirements and protect younger users. (Biometric Update)
Case Context — UK Debate on Under-16 Social Media Ban
Current Policy Discussion in the UK
- UK lawmakers are actively considering measures similar to Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media. Debates include whether to adopt such a ban, how to enforce it, and how it interacts with existing safety laws. (bisi.org.uk)
- A House of Lords amendment was passed that would require platforms to block under-16s within 12 months unless they implement very effective age-assurance measures. (bisi.org.uk)
- A government consultation is underway that weighs options ranging from a full ban to changes in age of consent, algorithm limits, and design rules aimed at safer digital environments for young people. (bisi.org.uk)
Policy Challenges & Impacts
- Opponents argue a strict ban could have unintended consequences — from enforcement difficulty (e.g., VPN circumvention) to pushing youth toward less regulated corners of the internet. (techuk.org)
- Some worry about privacy implications and the potential for broad age checks to lead to surveillance-like systems if not carefully restricted. (bisi.org.uk)
- Others highlight the wider effects on creators and digital skills development, noting that early access to social platforms can play a role in building future careers. (SecurityBrief UK)
Comments & Reactions
Industry Support & Official Reactions
From Yoti leadership and tech sector
- Yoti’s CEO has described the milestone as independent evidence that age verification can be robust, privacy-focused and scalable, especially as policymakers consider tougher youth online safety measures. (UKTN)
- Other technology providers note that age assurance is becoming an essential part of online safety compliance as regulators tighten age-gate rules under laws like the UK’s Online Safety Act. (McAfee)
Public Opinion & Concerns
Consumer skepticism
- Independent research and anecdotal feedback show some consumers distrust age-verification apps, worrying about accuracy or privacy. For example, a significant number of UK adults have said they don’t trust mobile apps to correctly verify age or would abandon online purchases if required to do age checks. (risk.lexisnexis.co.uk)
Mixed online sentiment
- Some users on social platforms express frustration that age checks (like those performed by Yoti) can be inaccurate or inconvenient, leading to account loss or access issues. (Reddit)
- Others question whether relying on AI age estimation is the right approach, with criticisms online about performance or privacy trade-offs. (Reddit)
Key Takeaways
| Topic | Main Point |
|---|---|
| Yoti Milestone | Achieved top global biometric test standard for selfie-based age verification technology. (UKTN) |
| Adoption Scale | Completed over 1 billion age checks globally. (Yoti) |
| UK Policy Debate | UK is exploring measures ranging from improved age assurance to possible social media bans for under-16s. (bisi.org.uk) |
| Public & Industry Views | Industry supports robust tech; some consumers express mistrust or practical concerns about age verification processes. (risk.lexisnexis.co.uk) |