In a major blow to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has turned down its proposal for a new age verification tool that would have prevented children from accessing age-restricted content.
The ESRB, in collaboration with digital identity firm Yoti and Epic Games-owned youth marketing company SuperAwesome, had applied to the FTC for approval of the facial-age estimation technology. The tool aimed to verify parental consent through facial scans and prevent unauthorized access to games.
However, the FTC rejected the application, citing a lack of a detailed description of the proposed method and concerns over its accuracy in identifying the age of the person giving consent. Additionally, the public’s concerns regarding privacy risks and vulnerability to deepfakes were also highlighted as reasons for the rejection.
Despite two extensions granted to the applicants, the FTC maintained its decision, denying a third extension requested by the ESRB and the parties involved.
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The FTC acknowledged that Yoti had shared the facial-age estimation technology with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which could help stakeholders better understand the proposed method. The door remains open for the ESRB and others to resubmit a revised proposal in the future.
This setback highlights the challenges in implementing complex new technologies and the need for careful consideration of legal and practical implications.
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