Research and analysis

Families’ attitudes towards age assurance: research commissioned by the ICO and Ofcom

The ICO and Ofcom have published research which they commissioned to provide an understanding of the attitudes that families have towards age assurance.

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Details

Through the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum(DRCF) workplan for 2022-23, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Ofcom committed to working together on protecting children online and synchronising their efforts – with a particular focus on improving outcomes for children and parents – by ensuring privacy and online safety protections work in unison. This joint research on age assurance was commissioned in line with that commitment.

Age assurance refers to a number of measures which would allow organisations to prevent children from accessing services which are inappropriate for their age, and also to tailor services to suit their developmental needs. The role of age assurance in children’s use of online services is an area of mutual interest for both the ICO and Ofcom, as age assurance products that comply with data protection legislation and meet further online safety objectives will help to deliver a stronger, more positive outcome for children online.

Published 11 October 2022