With the widespread availability of internet access, society has reaped significant benefits, but also faces risks, especially for vulnerable groups like children. These risks include exposure to harmful content such as pornography, violence, and harmful online forums. Protecting minors online is a collective responsibility, involving not just service providers, but all actors in the internet value chain. In response, governments and organizations are working to improve mechanisms for age-based access control, with initiatives such as the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and national regulations like those proposed in Spain for mandatory age verification.

Telecommunications operators can play a vital role in this by offering an API to streamline age verification across countries. Since operators already manage verified user data, such as date of birth linked to mobile numbers, they can provide a seamless and privacy-compliant solution for digital platforms. This “Know Your Customer Age Verification” API can be applied in various scenarios, including streaming services, gaming platforms, online marketplaces, and adult content websites, ensuring compliance with regulations while reducing friction in the user experience.