Navigating Verifiable Parental Consent and Age Authentication in Digital Spaces

Paula Bruening, Founder and Principal, Casentino Strategies
Eric Goldman, Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Law, Co-Director, High Tech Law Institute, Santa Clara University School of Law
Morgan Stevens, CIPP/A, CIPP/C, CIPP/CN, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, Privacy Fellowship Manager, Innovators Network Foundation

As children increasingly use digital platforms, regulators often require online publishers to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting their data. In practice, however, implementing verifiable parental consent presents significant challenges related to privacy, usability, access, and equity. How can online publishers comply with these laws without compromising user privacy or restricting access to online resources? What technical solutions effectively balance robust verification with a seamless user experience? And how should policymakers respond to the widening gap between regulatory expectations and the practical limits of current verification technologies? This panel will feature a discussion on the real-world challenges of verifiable parental consent, the effectiveness of current solutions, and the evolving debate over how best to protect children online.

What you will learn:

• Real-world challenges with implementing verifiable parental consent.
• Current methods and tools for age authentication in digital spaces.
• Policy recommendations for creating a safer digital ecosystem.