Germany

[DE] KJM approves auXenticate age verification system

IRIS 2021-2:1/25

Mirjam Kaiser

Institute of European Media Law

At the end of 2020, the Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz (Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media – KJM) approved the auXenticate age verification system in accordance with the provisions of the Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag (State Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media - JMStV) of the German Länder.

The KJM, as an organ of Germany’s Landesmedienanstalten (state media authorities), is responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the JMStV applicable to broadcasters and telemedia providers. This is necessary to ensure a common level of youth protection across the country.

auXenticate is a concept within the meaning of Article 4(2)(2) JMStV and provides a comprehensive age verification system for closed user groups of adults. It is designed to ensure that Internet content that is clearly harmful to minors can only be accessed by adults. Proof of age is checked through the identification of personal data. According to the KJM, the auXenticate app offers a reliable age verification system.

Users of the system are required to identify themselves as adults by entering personal data into the auXenticate app. A so-called AppID is then created and associated with the user’s smartphone. In other words, the ID is inextricably linked to the installation of the app on the smartphone, so it cannot be moved to or duplicated on different phones. This means the system cannot be used on children’s smartphones. An authentication procedure also checks personal data using processes that have already been approved. Finally, the app associated with the AppID and smartphone is used to scan a QR code. This registration code is sent by e-mail for further verification. In order to confirm the registration code, a PIN sent by SMS must be entered.

In the KJM’s opinion, this three-step verification system meets the necessary identification and authentication requirements.