ESRB Seeks to Simplify Collection of Children's Personal Data

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is attempting to make it easier for companies to collect children's personal data by proposing a new method for obtaining parental consent. This method utilizes facial age estimation technology, which guesses a person's age based on their appearance. The ESRB, along with its partners SuperAwesome and Yoti, has submitted an application to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to have this technology approved as a valid method of verifiable parental consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). However, concerns have been raised about the potential risks and biases associated with this technology, including its potential to disproportionately affect certain groups of people, such as dark-skinned women. Despite these concerns, the ESRB and its partners argue that the technology is a more convenient and efficient way for parents to provide consent, and that it will help to increase access to certain online services for children.