ShareRing trials blockchain ID for Australian age verification

Melbourne-based blockchain firm ShareRing is set to pilot its digital identity solution as part of the Australian government's initiative to enforce social media age restrictions.

The trial, which begins next week with school students in Darwin, aims to verify users' ages securely while maintaining control over personal data.

ShareRing's self-sovereign identity platform uses reusable digital IDs, eliminating the need for repetitive verification and ensuring privacy through trustless verification.

This approach addresses concerns about data breaches and ID theft, which have been raised since the legislation was approved for trial last year.

The Australian government is implementing new laws to ban children under 16 from creating social media accounts, with platforms facing fines up to $30.7 million for non-compliance.

ShareRing's technology aligns with these efforts by providing a secure and decentralised identity management system.

The trial is part of a broader $6.5 million initiative to evaluate age assurance technologies.

The Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) is leading the evaluation process, which will assess the effectiveness and privacy impacts of various age verification methods.

ShareRing's participation marks a significant step toward establishing a reliable digital ID framework in Australia.

The company's solution is built on the Cosmos SDK, allowing for custom blockchain creation and integration with other blockchains via Tendermint's proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

As Australia moves forward with digital asset regulations, ShareRing's blockchain-based identity solution could play a crucial role in enhancing online safety and privacy.

The trial's success could pave the way for wider adoption of decentralised identity technologies in the country.