The Age Assurance Technology Trial has concluded that age verification in Australia can be conducted privately, efficiently, and effectively. However, the outcome report does not promote a “one-size-fits-all” approach, and some anticipate a delayed impact after face checks are introduced in December. By the end of the year, legislation will enforce a social media ban to prevent under-16s from accessing these platforms, supported by advanced age assurance tools.
The report, which evaluated 48 vendors and over 60 distinct technologies, cautiously states it is not policy, or outlining recommendations for any type of age assurance technology. The results overall suggest there are no substantial technological limitations preventing the implementation of age assurance systems to meet policy goals. A “rich and rapidly evolving range of services” are feasible but they are not guaranteed to suit all use cases. No system of age assurance is infallible, especially when estimating a user’s age either side of 16 years old where errors are inevitable.
The Guardian reported that the outcomes from the trial indicated that companies may need “fall-back” options and other means of verification for users. Expecting a margin of error, the report stated, “false negatives will be inevitable and alternative methods will be required to correct them”.
On the whole, providers demonstrated robust, appropriate, and secure data handling practices, with a strong commitment to privacy-by-design principles.
However, a concerning trend was identified in the report where some providers appeared to be over-anticipating future regulatory needs by retaining unnecessary personal information – for example, full biometric or document data – for potential future investigations, which poses significant privacy risks.
Opportunities exist to enhance usability, improve risk management in systems, and increase system interoperability, such as enabling connection to digital wallets or improving risk management of a child’s digital footprint.
The Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial aligns closely with Identity Week Europe 2026’s focus on secure, privacy-preserving identity systems. Identity Week Europe is covering a multitude of topics including trust and safety online, verification and authentication, and data privacy where identity leaders will discuss designing inclusive, ethical digital identity frameworks that protect vulnerable users without compromising freedom or security.
