Australia’s long-anticipated Age Assurance Technology Trial (AATT) report has been released just months before new legislation banning under-16s from accessing social media is set to come into effect.
The report confirms what we (and many others) have long suspected: enforcing age restrictions online is a complex task, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, DigiChek emerged as a clear leader in both privacy and performance.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What was the purpose of the Age Assurance Technology Trial?
Commissioned by the Australian Government, the trial was designed to evaluate a wide range of age assurance technologies, from AI and biometrics to document-based systems and behavioural analysis tools. The aim was to determine which solutions could reliably verify a user’s age without introducing unacceptable risks to privacy, accessibility, or usability.
Each participating vendor was assessed against a set of core criteria defined by ISO 27566-1: functionality, performance, privacy, security, and user acceptability.
How did DigiChek perform?
DigiChek passed every test.
Our solution was validated in real-world conditions, confirming our ability to:
- Accurately verify users as 13+, 16+, and 18+
- Operate across all major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
- Avoid collecting or storing any sensitive documents, IDs, or biometric data
- Maintain complete privacy with no online tracking, no data transmission during use, and no digital footprint left behind
Most significantly, DigiChek was independently verified as being Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL9), the highest possible rating, indicating that our system is already fully operational in a commercial environment.
While other technologies reported “inevitable errors” or struggled to demonstrate real-world viability, DigiChek has already moved beyond the lab. It is in use, it works, and it protects user privacy by design.
What makes DigiChek different?
DigiChek does not rely on uploading government documents, device-specific technology, or intrusive data harvesting. Instead, it uses a secure, user-controlled DigiChek Key.
The system stores only a user’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. Nothing more. That data is encrypted, never shared with third parties, and cannot be used for tracking or profiling.
The DigiChek Key works much like a password but without the storage liabilities, making the system simple and familiar for users of all ages, including children and individuals with low digital literacy. It is also fully device-independent and does not require high-speed internet or complex onboarding, making it universally accessible.
Why does this matter now?
With the federal ban on under-16s accessing social media coming into force in December 2025, platforms will soon be under intense pressure to demonstrate compliance across their entire userbases. Age assurance technology is no longer optional, it’s a looming regulatory requirement.
But the implementation matters just as much as the policy. The wrong solution could introduce new risks to privacy, to data security, and to vulnerable users.
That’s why DigiChek’s performance in this trial matters. It demonstrates that it is possible to deliver effective, privacy-first age assurance that works for both users and platforms without compromising trust, accessibility, or compliance.
What’s next?
DigiChek is ready for commercial deployment at scale.
Our system is already operational, and integration pilots are underway. We are currently working with platform providers, government bodies, and education institutions to make DigiChek Keys available nationwide before the legislation takes effect.
If you’re a platform preparing for compliance (or a policymaker seeking a trusted, standards-aligned solution) please reach out.
DigiChek is privacy you can prove, and age assurance you can trust.