Australia’s US$4 Million Verification Technology Trials: ShareRing Leads the Way

Blockchain Firm Tapped to Test Digital Identity Tech for Social Media Restrictions

ShareRing, a Melbourne-based blockchain firm, has been selected as the first digital identity provider to begin testing its technology for the Australian government’s US$4 million verification technology trials. The trials aim to enforce social media restrictions for underage users, with a focus on age verification and data privacy.

Pilot Program to Begin in Darwin

ShareRing will launch a pilot program with school students in Darwin, testing its self-sovereign identity platform. The platform allows users to safely and securely provide age verification while keeping control of their personal data. The trial is set to begin next week and is expected to continue until December, when new legislation banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts is implemented.

Tackling Privacy Concerns

Trials will help address privacy concerns from Australians who have voiced concerns about the risk of ID theft in government-run databases. ShareRing’s use of reusable digital IDs helps eliminate the need for repetitive verification while maintaining instant trustless verification and a privacy-first approach.

Blockchain-Based Tech Offers Security

Unlike conventional centralized identity systems, ShareRing’s blockchain-based tech helps remove potential single points of failure or data breach risks. The platform allows users to verify their age without uploading personal documents, instead sharing only cryptographic proof, keeping data in the user’s control, and reducing exposure to breaches from nefarious hackers.

Technical Details

ShareRing’s tech is built on the Cosmos SDK, providing a way to create custom blockchains for use in helping screen out age-inappropriate content on social media platforms. The platform uses Tendermint, a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, to process registrations with efficiency while allowing connection to other blockchains.

Accreditation and Partnerships

ShareRing has secured accreditation under the UK’s Digital Identities and Attributes Trust Framework and joined Select ID, the UK’s first Reusable Digital ID Network for financial services. The company is working closely with Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), an independent assessment consortium, to ensure the success of the trials.

Conclusion

ShareRing’s participation in the Australian government’s verification technology trials marks a significant step forward in the development of decentralized identity solutions. With its focus on privacy, security, and user control, ShareRing’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach age verification and data protection.

FAQs

• What is the purpose of the Australian government’s verification technology trials? The trials aim to enforce social media restrictions for underage users, with a focus on age verification and data privacy.
• Who is participating in the trials? ShareRing, a Melbourne-based blockchain firm, is the first digital identity provider to begin testing its technology for the trials.
• What is ShareRing’s self-sovereign identity platform? The platform allows users to safely and securely provide age verification while keeping control of their personal data.
• How does ShareRing’s blockchain-based tech offer security? The platform uses a decentralized approach, eliminating the need for a single point of failure or data breach risk, and allowing users to verify their age without uploading personal documents.
• What is the timeline for the trials? The trials are set to begin next week and are expected to continue until December, when new legislation banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts is implemented.