The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) filed a joint-proposal to the FTC seeking approval for a new “verifiable parental consent” mechanism called “Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation.” The system would require the parent to take a selfie (via a live auto-capture module) which would then be analyzed by the system to ensure that it is the face of an adult, granting subsequent permissions once verification is completed.
If this is raising red flags for you, don’t worry, you’re far from the only one. In addition to the likely possibility of the system incorrectly identifying an adult as a child from time-to-time, the even greater risks revolve around children trying to game the system, the resulting invasion of privacy, and/or the chance of identities being stolen along with the scans. The ESRB stated that the images are deleted after verification is complete, but can one truly be so sure.
For those looking for better, safer parental control options, the three main consoles currently offer some great options. Xbox and Nintendo both offer standalone parental control apps, while Sony bundles their options into their main PlayStation app. If you’re interested in learning more about ESRB’s facial scan technology proposal, check out this piece from PC Gamer.
Image from: ESRB
