As the internet continues to evolve, protecting children online has become a global priority. With one in three internet users worldwide under the age of 18, governments are moving quickly to introduce stricter age verification and age-appropriate design regulations. These measures aim to safeguard young users’ privacy and wellbeing-but for online companies, they also bring a new level of compliance complexity.
From the United Kingdom’s groundbreaking Age-Appropriate Design Code to Australia’s recent restrictions on social media for users under 16, countries are advancing at different speeds and with different approaches. The result is a patchwork of requirements that makes global alignment difficult, especially for organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The IEEE Standards Association helps bridge this divide with the IEEE Online Age Verification Certification Program. Through its globally recognized standards and IEEE age verification framework, IEEE SA translates diverse regulatory expectations into consistent, practical tools that enable companies to meet child protection and data privacy obligations worldwide.
The Global Regulatory Landscape: Age Verification Requirements Around the World
Around the world, governments are responding to growing concerns over children’s digital rights and online safety by introducing new age verification and age-appropriate design regulations. Yet despite a shared goal of protecting minors, these laws vary widely in scope, enforcement, and technical requirements. The result is a complex compliance environment-one that leaves global companies searching for a consistent framework to follow.
United Kingdom: Leading the Charge with AADC
The UK’s Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC), established in 2019 and fully implemented by 2021, remains the benchmark for child data protection. The regulation has already prompted more than 90 documented industry changes, reshaping how digital services are built and maintained.
The AADC requires companies to implement age-appropriate design by default, conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments for services likely to be accessed by children, and provide clear, age-appropriate privacy information. Most importantly, it mandates robust age verification processes that can reliably determine user age ranges.
European Union: GDPR’s Age Verification Requirements
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets strict rules for processing children’s personal data. Under Article 8, companies must obtain verifiable parental consent for users under 16-or a lower age if permitted by national law. This has created significant challenges for organizations operating across multiple European markets.
The regulation’s requirement for “verifiable” consent means companies cannot rely on self-declaration. They must implement technical and organizational controls that demonstrate a measurable level of age verification accuracy.
United States: COPPA and State-Level Initiatives
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) has long required parental consent for collecting personal information from children under 13. Recent enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission have placed renewed emphasis on how companies validate users’ ages and manage data privacy.
Meanwhile, several U.S. states have introduced their own age-appropriate design or age verification laws. California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act-though currently facing legal challenges-signals a growing shift toward stronger protections. Other states are following suit with legislation targeting social-media platforms and adult-content providers.
Beyond these established regulations, new frameworks are emerging worldwide:
- Australia: The world’s first full social media ban for children under 16, with large financial penalties for non-compliance
- Spain: Proposed restrictions on social media access for children under 16, supported by stronger age-verification requirements
- Greece: Plans to restrict social media access for children under 15 beginning in 2027
- India: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 requires proof that parents agree for using children’s data
- Indonesia: Recently introduced an age-appropriate design regulation informed by IEEE standards and expertise
From London to Washington to Brussels, lawmakers are converging on the same principle: digital products must account for the age and vulnerability of their users. But as these rules evolve independently, the resulting patchwork poses real challenges for multinational organizations. This is where the IEEE age verification framework becomes essential-offering a harmonized, standards-based approach that aligns compliance efforts across borders and prepares companies for the next phase of global regulation.
IEEE SA’s Strategic Response: Age-Appropriate Design, Age Verification, and Certification
To help organizations navigate increasingly complex global regulations, To help organizations navigate increasingly complex global regulations, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) developed a standards-based approach that connects age-appropriate design with practical age-verification processes.
IEEE 2089™-2021, the Standard for an Age-Appropriate Digital Services Framework Based on the 5Rights Principles for Children, provides a foundation for designing digital services that recognize when users are children and account for their rights, capacities, and developmental needs.
IEEE 2089.1™-2024, the Standard for Online Age Verification, builds on that foundation by establishing a framework for the design, specification, evaluation, and deployment of online age-verification systems. It addresses key elements of age assurance, including accuracy, authenticity, counter-fraud measures, and the frequency of verification.
Together, IEEE 2089 and IEEE 2089.1 help organizations connect children’s digital rights with practical tools for age-appropriate design and age verification. Organizations can learn more about certification against IEEE 2089.1 through the IEEE Online Age Verification Certification Program.
IEEE SA’s Online Age Verification Certification Program: Turning Standards into Global Compliance
To translate standards into real-world practice, IEEE SA partners with Age Check Certification Scheme Ltd. (ACCS)-a global leader in age and identity verification. Through its subsidiary AVID Certification Services Ltd., ACCS became the first official provider authorized to certify compliance with IEEE 2089.1-2024.
“As the digital world continues to evolve, a reliable, secure, and globally recognized framework for verifying the age of online users is essential,” says Tony Allen, Founder and Chief Executive of Age Check Certification Scheme. “We are proud to be working with the IEEE Standards Association to advance the cause of online safety for the world’s youth.”
Under this program, companies undergo a comprehensive evaluation of their age verification systems-from design and specification to testing and deployment – against the framework defined in IEEE 2089.1-2024. Certification delivers measurable benefits, including:
- Regulatory confidence through independent verification of compliance with international standards.
- Risk reduction via third-party oversight and documentation.
- Operational efficiency by harmonizing systems across markets.
- Market access through global recognition of IEEE certification.
A strong example of the program’s impact comes from Indonesia, which became the first Asian nation to introduce an age-appropriate design regulation informed by IEEE standards and expertise. Working with IEEE, the country developed legislation that reflects its unique context while drawing on international best practices-demonstrating the adaptability and global value of the IEEE 2089 framework.
Addressing Implementation Challenges
Even with growing global alignment, age verification remains a technical and ethical challenge. IEEE SA’s standards help organizations address three major areas of complexity:
- Technology and accuracy: Systems must be both precise and practical. IEEE 2089.1 defines scalable methods that balance accuracy, ease of use, and reliability.
- Privacy and data security: The framework embeds privacy-by-design principles-minimizing data collection, requiring clear user notices, and ensuring individuals can control their personal information.
- Cross-border compliance: A unified global framework simplifies adherence to multiple jurisdictions’ laws, reducing legal risk and administrative burden.
Global Momentum and How to Get Certified
Organizations interested in certification can begin by reviewing the IEEE Online Age Verification Certification Program. The process includes:
- Initial assessment of current verification systems
- Gap analysis and remediation planning
- Implementation of IEEE 2089.1 requirements
- Third-party testing with AVID Certification Services
- Final certification and global recognition
From Compliance to Confidence
The IEEE Standards Association provides more than a pathway to compliance-it offers a roadmap for responsible innovation. Through its age verification and age-appropriate design standards, IEEE SA empowers companies to meet regulatory demands, safeguard young users’ privacy, and strengthen global trust in digital services.
For organizations committed to ethical digital design and children’s online protection, IEEE certification represents both a compliance solution and a competitive advantage. Learn more or begin the certification process at the IEEE Online Age Verification Certification Program page.
To contribute to the development of future standards and stay connected with IEEE SA’s ongoing work, consider joining as a member at the IEEE Standards Association Membership page.
