Multi-Factor Age Verification Using Email Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional online age verification methods are vulnerable to manipulation, allowing underage users to purchase age-restricted products or services by simply claiming to meet the age requirement without proper verification.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) that utilizes email metadata, such as the age of an archived email, in conjunction with other information like knowledge-based authentication questions and identification documents, to accurately determine a user's age before authorizing transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple age verification method (user clicking a button) is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of age verification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The age verification process is segmented into multiple independent factors: email account age verification, knowledge-based authentication questions, and identification document verification. Each factor operates independently and contributes to the overall verification decision, preventing any single point of failure or manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
An email account serves as an intermediary object to verify user age. The system checks the age of the email account (based on registration date) as a proxy for user age, and uses this intermediary verification alongside other factors to determine eligibility for age-restricted content
2Reliability
If multiple-factor authentication is implemented, then the reliability of age verification is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system is divided into modular components: email validation module, KBA question generation module, document verification module, and decision-making module. Each module handles a specific aspect of verification, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The email account serves multiple functions: it acts as a unique user identifier, provides an age indicator through its registration date, and serves as a communication channel for delivering KBA questions and verification results. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each purpose
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for multi-factor authentication (MFA) of an age of a user are provided. A user may request online purchase of an age-restricted product or service. The user may provide an email that is associated with metadata. The email and metadata may be processed to determine if the user is associated with the email and to determine an age of the email. The age of the email may serve as a proxy for determining a minimum age of the user. The online purchase may be authorized if the minimum age of the user meets or exceeds the minimum age required to purchase the age-restricted product or service. The age of the email may be used along with other information provided by the user to further improve or confirm an estimated age of the user. Alternative forms of personal identifiers other than email may be used such as social media handles.