Trust Stamp Inc (NASDAQ:IDAI, EURONEXT:AIID) Chief Science Officer Dr Norman Poh spoke with Proactive about a new biometric-based solution for age verification online.
The company recently released a peer-reviewed paper titled "Biometric Bound Credentials for Age Verification" that addresses growing concerns around digital child safety and identity fraud.
Dr Poh explained that current systems often fail to stop what is known as "friendly fraud," where a child accesses content by unlocking a device owned by an older sibling.
“Only the elder sibling can access, can unlock the app and then go on and use their service,” he said.
To solve this, Trust Stamp developed biometric-bound credentials that authenticate the user directly, rather than relying on device-based security like passkeys.
Dr Poh said this approach prevents circumvention via VPNs and ensures the identity of the person accessing the content, regardless of the device used.
He noted that many existing age verification systems are easily bypassed, with users employing VPNs to avoid regulations like the UK’s Online Child Safety Acts.
Trust Stamp's method uses facial biometrics to generate private keys that follow the user across devices.
“Your credential follows you rather than using the device itself,” he added.
Dr Poh also shared that the academic community has responded positively to the innovation, inviting him to present the paper at the Biometric Special Interest Group conference in Darmstadt.
He emphasized the importance of peer review in refining the solution and validating its novelty.