Brisbane: Online age verification can be implemented safely without compromising user privacy through advanced cryptographic systems, researchers have said.

Writing in The Conversation, Marten Risius of the The University of Queensland and Johannes Sedlmeir of the University of Munster said growing regulatory pressure has prompted platforms to introduce age checks. Countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Australia have moved to mandate stronger online age controls.

They cautioned that common methods like facial age estimation require users to share sensitive biometric data, which can pose privacy and security risks if breached.

However, the researchers said privacy-preserving alternatives exist. One example is Germany's electronic ID system, which uses cryptographic digital attestations to confirm a user meets a minimum age requirement without revealing personal details such as name or date of birth.

Similar approaches are being explored through EU digital identity frameworks and digital wallets, they said.

The key challenge lies in technical design and transparent governance to prevent misuse, surveillance or “function creep”, the authors added.