How zero-knowledge tools can help us verify age and protect privacy online
We've all seen what that 'verification' actually looks like: 'I'm over 18.' One click, and you're in. This is how the internet currently 'protects' minors. It's laughable, until you realize that this system is failing millions of children and teens every day.
In the U.S., Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson also highlighted this profound inadequacy, calling simple date-of-birth entries 'little to no barrier' for underage access.
This admission from a top regulator underscores what many have long known: Current systems throughout the world are failing our children.
The other extreme can be even worse. Platforms requiring actual age verification often demand personal documents and store them in databases that have become high-value targets for bad actors. In December, Signzy, a major know-your-customer provider, suffered a malware attack exposing customer data, including scans of IDs and selfie biometrics.
Similarly, in January, a massive data breach at education technology provider PowerSchool compromised the sensitive information of 60 million students. Such events are clear indicators of systemic vulnerabilities.
Exposing personal identifiable data could lead bad actors right to the doorstep of children, youth and family members, the exact opposite of what age verification requirements are supposed to accomplish.
Today's age verification tools were not designed for the digital age. Applying financial-focused risk management procedures (like 'know-your-customer') to social platforms or gaming sites is invasive and dangerous.
When sensitive documents are uploaded and stored on third-party servers, data breaches aren't a matter of if, only when.
For kids and families, this is unacceptable. For developers and platforms, it creates massive legal and regulatory challenges. For society, we're missing an opportunity to implement real protection that respects privacy.
We're caught in a false choice: either no protection at all or too much vulnerable surveillance. But we no longer have to choose between these two failures. Zero-knowledge identity protocols remove this mutual exclusivity with enhanced security, privacy and user experience.
Zero-knowledge cryptographic technology allows someone to prove something is true without revealing the underlying information.
Think of it as showing you're old enough to enter a venue without showing your ID or revealing your name. The mathematical proof confirms that you meet the requirement.
This approach enables users to cryptographically prove their age without exposing other sensitive information. For instance, they can confirm they are over 18 without revealing their exact birthdate or other identifiable features beyond what's necessary.
The process generally involves a few key stages. Initially, a user interacts with their government-issued ID through a secure application, often on a smartphone. This interaction permits the extraction of necessary data directly from the document's secure elements.
Next, a cryptographic proof is generated. This proof is a mathematical assertion that the user meets a specific age criterion (e.g., over 18). Crucially, this proof contains no personally identifiable information itself; it only confirms the truth of the age claim.
This privacy-preserving proof can then be shared with an online service or platform.
The platform verifies the proof's authenticity and validity using cryptographic techniques, confirming the user's age qualification without ever accessing or storing the underlying personal data from the ID. The platform learns only if the user is old enough.
Major tech companies are already recognizing the potential. Google announced that it's integrating zero-knowledge proof technology into Google Wallet for age verification, with partners like Bumble already on board.
Developers can integrate zero-knowledge age verification into their applications through open-source libraries and verification contracts.
These systems check the cryptographic proof and confirm whether a user meets the defined minimum age threshold, all without storing or even seeing the user's full identity.
The programmability of these systems is crucial for global deployment. Zero-knowledge protocols can automatically adjust to local regulations (e.g., age 16, 18 or 21) while maintaining the same privacy guarantees.
Consider how this technology transforms real-world platforms.
Gaming sites verify users meet age requirements without collecting ID copies. Dating apps confirm users' real ages without accessing other personal information.
Content platforms gate mature content based on cryptographic proof rather than self-reported information or vulnerable document storage.
This is privacy-first protection, enforceable by code and leveraging proven cryptographic technologies. Users maintain full control over their information, choosing what to disclose in each online interaction.
We shouldn't accept that verifying a child's age online requires sacrificing privacy, or that doing nothing is acceptable either.
The regulatory landscape is already shifting.
New York's SAFE for Kids Act began requiring platforms to use age determination technology and restrict 'addictive' feeds to minors without parental consent.
Other legislation, like the federal Take It Down Act and state-level App Store accountability acts, also signals a move towards stricter online safety, though some raise privacy concerns about mass data collection.
Current age verification methods are also proving unreliable.
The United Kingdom's Office of Communications recently fined OnlyFans operator Fenix International approximately $1.4 million for providing inaccurate information about its age verification, highlighting how even 'advanced' biometric systems can fail.
As legislation aimed at protecting minors online continues to evolve, the technology industry should lead by example. We can protect vulnerable users without exposing their most sensitive information to bad actors.
We can continue with systems that either don't work or create massive privacy risks, or we can embrace cryptographic solutions that protect both children and privacy.
Platforms now have access to privacy-preserving tools that respect both user autonomy and legal responsibility. There's no excuse not to build better. Parents deserve peace of mind, kids deserve safety and we all deserve a more thoughtful internet.
With increasing regulatory scrutiny and growing public demand for better protections, the impetus to shift away from ineffective checkboxes and invasive data collection toward genuinely workable solutions is clear: It is time to move on from the checkbox era.
Rene Reinsberg is an entrepreneur who has co-founded multiple ventures including Celo, Self and Locu (acquired by GoDaddy). Jane Khodarkovsky is a former trial attorney and human trafficking finance specialist in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division, in the U.S. Department of Justice. She is currently a partner at Arktouros.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
19 minutes ago
- Business Insider
France orders tighter visa controls on Algerian diplomats amid deportation row
French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed his government to tighten visa restrictions on Algerian diplomats as tensions escalate over Algeria's refusal to accept the deportation of its nationals from France. French President Emmanuel Macron directed tighter visa restrictions for Algerian diplomats. The move comes in response to Algeria's refusal to accept deported nationals from France. Tensions have worsened due to France recognising Morocco's Western Sahara claim, opposed by Algeria. French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed his government to tighten visa restrictions on Algerian diplomats as tensions escalate over Algeria's refusal to accept the deportation of its nationals from France. Macron cited growing migration and security challenges with Algeria, calling for a firmer stance towards the former French colony, according to a Reuters report. He directed Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to formally notify Algiers of France's suspension of a 2013 agreement that allowed diplomatic and official passport holders from Algeria to enter France without visas. Macron also asked Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to coordinate with Schengen zone countries to ensure stricter enforcement, urging them to consult France before issuing short-stay visas to Algerian officials covered under the suspended accord. What Macron said: "France must be strong and command respect. It can only receive this from its partners if it shows them the respect it demands from them. This basic rule also applies to Algeria," Macron said. Diplomatic relations between Paris and Algiers have frayed since July 2024, when France recognised Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed territory Algeria staunchly supports in favour of Sahrawi independence.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Australian mechanic tries to buy home for parents, loses $449K savings in scam — blames bank transfer firm
For some, the ultimate dream is giving back to the parents who raised them, to return years of unconditional love with a gesture of gratitude. For Jimmy, an Australian mechanic, that dream took the form of bricks and mortar. "I wanted something that I could sort of call home in my mum's and dad's later years, in our later years, and still be close to the kids," he told A Current Affair. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Jimmy walked into his local Commonwealth Bank branch to transfer $449,000 — 25 years' worth of life savings — to his conveyancer to purchase a home overlooking Lake Illawarra in New South Wales. He believed doing it in person would offer an extra layer of protection. Instead, it became the very step that cost him everything. Jimmy's story is part of a growing trend. Consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission, a 25% increase from the previous year. The transfer details turned out to be fraudulent. Jimmy now points the finger at the conveyancing firm, while the business claims he missed a crucial instruction in the fine print. The transfer trap When Jimmy made the transfer, he had no idea a scammer had intercepted his email thread with Active Property Conveyancing. Instead of sending his bank the legitimate payment instructions, he unknowingly followed directions from the fraudster and wired his $449,000 directly into a scammer's account. He didn't realize what had happened until six days later. "[The bank teller] goes, 'Just tell me who you want me to pay'. And I said to her, 'I suppose you better do what the email says'. They've just got the paperwork. They've entered it all in. And we left, and that was it," he recalled. By then, it was too late. Although CBA attempted to recover the funds, the money had already been divided and rerouted through multiple accounts within 48 hours of the transfer. Unfortunately, stories like his are becoming all too common. According to Pew Research, nearly three in four U.S. adults (73%) say some form of online scam has targeted them. 'We are at an epidemic level of fraud,' said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud-prevention programs with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), in an interview with Time. Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. The fine print he missed Jimmy blames both Active Property Conveyancing and the bank for the scam that wiped out his savings. "If your system was compromised and they've stolen my information and sent me an email, how's that my fault?" he said. But the conveyancing firm sees things differently. They say the fraudulent email came from a Hotmail account — not their official domain — and included a clear disclaimer Jimmy failed to follow. The warning read: 'DO NOT act on any communication asking you to transfer or deposit funds without first contacting us by telephone.' Commonwealth Bank also says it took precautions. According to the bank, Jimmy was shown seven scam-related warnings before completing the transfer, including one that asked him to confirm the recipient's banking details independently. Because he skipped that verification step, the bank says there's no insurance coverage to recover the loss. A quick call could save your savings Real estate transactions are already stressful, but scammers can turn them into a financial nightmare. To avoid falling victim, always verify payment instructions by phone before transferring money. Use a trusted number from the contract or the company's website, not the one in the email signature. Watch for subtle signs of fraud. A strange-looking email address, urgent language or last-minute banking changes should all raise red flags. Many legal and real estate professionals now include disclaimers asking clients to confirm banking details by phone. And when your bank gives you scam warnings before a transfer, don't just click through. These prompts are designed to slow you down and help you double-check. Scammers count on you being too busy or emotionally invested to look closely. But when it comes to protecting your money, a little hesitation can make all the difference. What to read next Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
What if AMC Motors had survived? How it could've changed the auto industry
American Motors Corporation was an absolute mess by the mid-1980s, and its financial problems in the U.S. market were compounded by infighting at its European corporate parent, Renault, where executives went back and forth about how much money they were willing to pour into their trans-Atlantic subsidiary. The assassination of Renault's chairman in 1986 by French terrorists caused AMC to lose its most powerful supporter, and a hasty sale to Chrysler ultimately condemned it to the dustbin of automotive history. Chrysler hoovered up the tastiest bits of the American Motors portfolio — namely, Jeep — and slowly phased out the rest of the AMC's offerings over the course of the next decade. In retrospect, however, AMC was holding not one, not two, but three aces up its sleeve that could have seen it weather the financial storm throughout the '80s. It's entirely possible that had a few key moments in the company's timeline gone a different way, it would have been American Motors and not Chrysler enjoying the fruits of Jeep's mainstream renaissance in the early 1990s — a rebirth that AMC in fact already had in development when it was scooped up by the suits in Auburn Hills. Our favorite iconic vehicle eras: The most significant cars of the 2000s How different would the car industry have looked at the turn of the millennium if AMC had never changed hands? It turns out that this ripple in the chronological pond had the potential to upset big chunks of established history, not just in America, but in nearly every corner of the established automotive hegemony. Here's our alternative timeline in which AMC not only survives but thrives — and what the resulting fallout would have likely meant for one of Detroit's longtime stalwarts. After intense lobbying by American Motors, the U.S. government carves out an exception to a law forbidding foreign ownership of defense contractors, contingent on Renault spinning off AM General (the builder of the Humvee owned at the time by AMC) as an independently managed concern under the AMC umbrella. The continued, steady flow of government contracts acts as a lifeline for American Motors, and it cancels plans to take out a significant loan from its corporate parent to fund operations. The Renault Espace arrives in AMC showrooms, where it is rebadged as the 'Space Van,' an Americanized take on the literal translation of the French vehicle's European identity. Surprisingly, the funky badge helps give the people-mover some personality, which, combined with its genuine practicality and roomier interior versus rivals from Ford (the Aerostar) and Chevrolet (the Astro), helps put it alongside the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager as a popular and affordable family ride. In case you missed it: Jeep dealer offers 99-cent lease on Wagoneer EV Following the introduction of the redesigned Jeep Cherokee the year before, this gives AMC a presence in two of the highest-growth segments in the American auto industry, and for the first time in years the company is cash-flow positive. This convinces American Motors to accelerate investment in a larger sport utility vehicle that would complement the Cherokee, called the Grand Cherokee, the design of which is already well underway. Renault chairman Georges Besse's chauffeur is surprised to see two armed women in front of the home of his boss while driving back from the office on a cold November evening. He immediately hits the gas, slamming the rear door shut before Besse can exit the vehicle, and the pair escapes with just a few bullet holes in the rear quarter panel. After surviving the assassination attempt, Besse is given carte blanche at Renault to move forward with his plans for focusing on Jeep as the automaker's piggybank to fund not only AMC, but to also further the expansion of the French brand onto American shores. Chrysler, on a brash spending spree that includes buying a controlling stake in Lamborghini and an expansion of its partnership with Mitsubishi to form Diamond Star Motors, sees exactly the same potential in Jeep as Georges Besse. An offer is made to Renault not just for the off-road brand but for all of AMC, with Chrysler trying to cloak its true intentions about what it considers the real prize of the transaction. Besse won't be bought, however, and Chrysler returns hat-in-hand to Auburn Hills. Ambitious planning begins for the upcoming decade in the American market. With Jeep as its crown jewel, both Eagle and AMC are slated for repositioning beneath Renault. The French badge is no longer interested in its role as an entry-level brand hawking low-spec Le Cars and lays the groundwork for leveraging existing dealerships to form a stronger toehold for the revitalized company. The Jeep Grand Cherokee breaks cover as a 'concept' at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The response from both the media and show attendees is overwhelmingly positive, leading to a brief spike in compact Cherokee sales from customers too impatient for what they assume will be a lengthy wait for the production version. No one realizes that Besse's pressure to keep pumping cash into Jeep has dramatically accelerated the Grand Cherokee's timeline. The Grand Cherokee makes its debut in showrooms to universal acclaim. On top of offering a choice of either AMC's old faithful inline six-cylinder engine or a newly developed, 5.9-liter fuel-injected V-8, it also provides a turbodiesel option borrowed from the Renault parts bin. The latter choice positions the Jeep in its higher trim levels as something more than an off-roader, pushing it onto the radar of Europhiles who have become used to parking Range Rovers in their driveways. This opens a second front of European sales for Jeep in the luxury sphere. The Ford Explorer joins the midsize SUV scene, splitting the difference between the Grand Cherokee's off-road chops and the practical character prized by family buyers now tempted to abandon their minivans. SUV sales are soaring, leaving General Motors and Chrysler playing catch-up. Chevrolet and GMC are at least able to soak up some sales thanks to the four-door compact Blazer/Jimmy and full-size four-door Suburbans sitting on full-size truck platforms, but the two-door Dodge Ramcharger remains in a distant fourth place as it plays out the string on a dated pickup chassis. Buoyed by strong Jeep sales, Renault launches the initial phase of its ambitious American strategy. First, it spins off AMC as a value-focused brand selling cars on a 'no-haggle' model: What you see advertised is what you pay at the dealership. Along with a redesigned Espace, an entirely new lineup of hatchbacks, small wagons, sedans and budget coupes are gradually deployed over the course of the next few years, some sharing components with Renault's European offerings while others benefit from AMC's next-generation four-cylinder engine program. This puts AMC in direct competition with GM's Saturn brand, which arrived on the scene in mid-1990. Next, a revitalized Eagle steps out of the AMC shadow and becomes its own brand. The focus remains on what are now being called 'crossovers,' automobiles that sit between a wagon and a sport utility vehicle. Eagle also benefits from Renault's technical prowess in the form of unibody models that feature sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems in place of their earlier, low-range four-wheel drive setups. The new Eagles are an immediate hit in regions like Colorado and New England. Chrysler, facing considerable financial strain as sales of the Grand Caravan and Voyager slow in the face of the SUV onslaught, are forced to sell Lamborghini to MegaTech, an Indonesian company owned by Tommy Suharto, the son of that country's president-for-life. The automaker takes a loss on the deal, but it helps stem some of the financial bleeding that's beginning to concern both executives and Wall Street alike. Dodge introduces a new Ram pickup that instantly makes it a player in the full-size segment after years of disappointing sales. Unfortunately, that same success doesn't translate to its revised version of the SUV, which updates the two-door Ramcharger with the new pickup's underpinnings. As the market continues to move toward family-friendly four-door haulers, many of them taking their cues from Eagle's crossovers, the Ramcharger is out of step with what customers are actually looking for in a sport utility. Renault implements the next stage of its U.S. transformation by introducing the second generation of what had originally been planned as the Eagle Premier sedan. Originally kept exclusive to the European market, where it was sold as the Medallion, the new Renault Premier pushes the automaker into a higher class than it had previously enjoyed among American buyers, leading some to compare the car to offerings from Oldsmobile and even Audi. After a fraught development process, the Dodge Viper concept car makes a late debut at the Detroit auto show. Although it was originally hoped that Lamborghini's engineers could be more involved in the design of the vehicle's drivetrain, the early sale forced Dodge to move on from its planned V-10 and instead supercharge the company's long-standing 5.9-liter V-8. Heart-stopping styling doesn't make up for the lack of an exotic engine, making it harder for the public to stomach the no windows/no roof inconveniences of its cabin. Production plans for the Viper are quietly scuttled. The Viper team is diverted to focus on the Dodge Durango, a four-door, Grand Cherokee–sized SUV that the company hopes will turn its fortunes around. Subaru, in the face of strong sales from Eagle eating into its core customer base, makes a product cancellation of its own. The Outback, a tall-riding version of its Legacy wagon, is deemed too derivative of the Eagle lineup to make a dent in the market, and its development is halted. Facing dwindling revenues, and unable to finance new product development, Subaru's leadership initiates back-channel talks with Toyota about a possible merger. Renault, emboldened by the money pouring into its coffers from the success of AMC, Jeep and Eagle, makes the surprise move of purchasing Volvo, scooping Ford who had planned on making overtures for the Swedish brand to join its nascent Premier Automotive Group. After decades of working together on various shared projects, Renault hopes to leverage Volvo's dealer network and customer base to continue its colonization of the near-luxury space in the United States. Talks also begin with Nissan about a potential alliance. Two new premium models emerge on American roads bearing the Renault badge: the Megane sport hatch and the Laguna hatchback sedan, with the latter praised for its near-crossover utility and excellent handling. Concerned by Renault's burgeoning acquisition portfolio, Toyota signs a deal to bring Subaru in-house. At the same time, executives announce a new subbrand called Scion that's intended to take on both AMC and Saturn, which have split much of the entry-level market between them in the United States. Chrysler, looking for a savior of its own, begins talks with Daimler about a potential 'merger of equals.' The German automaker's boardroom doesn't see much of value in Chrysler's mishmash of cheap cars, fading minivans and almost-luxury sedans, and while the Dodge Ram is appealing, it's too far outside the Daimler playbook to integrate properly into its American operations. Discussions never advance past the initial stages. Emboldened by its newfound partnership with Nissan (which involved a stock share and co-investment in each other's companies), Renault has the cash to add the missing piece to its U.S. portfolio: Dodge, which it plucks from a flailing Chrysler as part of a general takeover bid. While the Ram pickup fills an important void, the Ramcharger is quietly put out of its misery, along with any plans to bring the stillborn Durango to market. The Chrysler brand is relegated to special trim levels on several Renault models, specifically those sold to livery companies for use as limousines. The Walter P. Chrysler package becomes a popular choice in the black car business over the course of the next decade. Photos by Getty Images, MotorTrend Archive, Ryan Lugo
