Unissey: Age Verification Solution to Comply with the ARCOM Regulation

The increasingly frequent exposure of adolescents to online pornography poses a serious threat to their psychological and social development. The numbers are clear: according to a Médiamétrie study, nearly 40% of 15-17 year-olds have already been exposed to it. In response to this alarming situation, the ARCOM has taken drastic measures by requiring platforms to implement reliable and effective age verification solutions. 

However, adult content publishers only have 3 months to comply, otherwise, as we have seen previously in this article, failure to do so will result in their sites being blocked in France.. Unissey, a facial biometrics solution for remote identity verification, offers a reliable, universal, very fast, and flexible age verification solution to help you comply with the ARCOM regulation. Let's find out how!

Unissey: A Reliable and Secure Age Verification Solution for ARCOM Compliance

Age verification, regardless of the method, is only meaningful if it ensures that the correct user is present during the process. In this regard, the ARCOM requires age verification solutions to prevent age evidence sharing between users and to "exclude any method of circumvention that could be used by minors to artificially appear older, such as using photos, recorded videos, or masks."

Unissey, dedicated to fight identity fraud, offers solutions to counter both physical attacks (presentation attacks) and digital attacks like deepfakes (injection attacks). The robustness of its liveness detection algorithms is guaranteed by ISO 30107-3 and CEN/TS 18099 certifications, positioning Unissey at the forefront of meeting ARCOM's reliability requirements and ensuring maximum security for users of all ages. Find out in this article the differences between presentation and injection attacks.

Furthermore, age verification "must be carried out using an image of sufficient quality." To ensure optimal image capture, Unissey provides users with a guide. However, to be truly effective, age verification solutions must be able to handle a wide range of image quality, as not everyone has a high-end smartphone. Unissey's algorithm, ranked second in the NIST evaluation for "borderline" images, excels in handling real-world image conditions like varying lighting and framing.

Additionally, image quality is significantly influenced by the device used. According to an ARCOM study, 75% of minors access adult content via mobile devices. However, a significant portion still accesses these platforms through computers or tablets. Unissey's universal solution is the only facial biometrics system in the world that performs effectively on both mobile and desktop devices, as demonstrated by the ISO 30107-3 certification.

This universality is embedded in Unissey's DNA. Beyond functioning on any device, Unissey solutions are reliable for everyone, as required by the ARCOM regulation, which stipulates that age verification solutions must be "effective for all population groups" and "available to at least 80% of the adult population residing in France." In the NIST evaluation, Unissey's GINI coefficient, which measures algorithm bias, ranked second among evaluated solutions.

Finally, to ensure continuous service availability, the ARCOM regulation requires "the availability of at least two different age verification methods." Unissey's flexible solutions can be integrated into various age verification workflows, regardless of complexity. This ease of integration also extends to other criteria outlined in the regulation.

Data Protection at the Heart of Unissey's Age Verification Solution for Full ARCOM Compliance

Age control on adult content sites is undeniably sensitive since verifying highly personal information pertains to access to services surrounded by significant stigma. This is why the ARCOM regulation places strong emphasis on data protection in age verification solutions.

According to the regulation, "the implementation of age verification solutions must not allow the targeted communication services to collect the identity, age, date of birth, or other personal information of users." Facial biometrics, which only requires a user's face for age verification, fulfills this requirement by minimizing the collection of personal data.

Furthermore, the ARCOM regulation mandates “enhanced data confidentiality”, both for age attribute issuers (who must not know the purpose of the verification) and content publishers (who must not identify the source or method of verification). This complete confidentiality is guaranteed by the "double anonymity" principle, which is perfectly compatible with Unissey's solutions.

Unissey, an Age Verification Solution to Comply with Arcom Standards Without Compromising User Experience

The sole purpose of the ARCOM regulation is to protect minors from adult content. However, adult content websites remain a business seeking growth and sustainability. Age verification requirements will undoubtedly impact the user experience. It is crucial to find a balance between blocking access for minors and ensuring a smooth experience for adult users.

The regulation stipulates that "age verification must be performed for each service consultation." Therefore, the age verification process must be as smooth and quick as possible. Facial biometrics, by its nature, is the fastest solution for verifying identity or age. With Unissey, verification takes only 3 seconds, from selfie capture to result delivery.

As mentioned earlier, facial biometrics requires only a selfie for the verification process, reassuring users. However, taking a selfie can sometimes cause anxiety. To address this, Unissey offers a filter that blurs the face during capture, providing a sense of anonymity and reducing selfie anxiety.

Conclusion : 

Arcom's standards mark a turning point in the regulation of online adult content. To meet these new requirements, publishers must act swiftly and select reliable solutions to ensure their platforms comply. With its cutting-edge technology, Unissey offers a turnkey solution to guarantee regulatory compliance while optimizing user experience. Contact our team to learn more!

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