Persona integrates ConnectID for privacy-first age checks

Persona has integrated ConnectID into its age verification offering in Australia, targeting organisations that must comply with age-checking rules for Australian users.

The integration lets users confirm they meet an age threshold through enrolment data held by participating banks, rather than by uploading passports or driving licences online. The system can return a limited age claim, such as "Over 16" or "Over 18", without sharing a name or date of birth with the business requesting the check.

The approach comes as Australia's under-16 social media legislation increases scrutiny of how platforms verify age while limiting unnecessary collection of personal data. It is designed so sensitive identity documents do not have to be shared with social media services as part of an age assurance check.

How it works

Users are shown a list of participating banks and can choose their preferred provider, including CommBank, NAB, ANZ Plus and Westpac. They then authenticate through their banking app and give permission to share confirmation that they meet the relevant age requirement.

The transaction is structured to minimise data disclosure. Only the age confirmation needed for the specific transaction is shared with the business, while identity documents are not uploaded and personal information does not leave the bank.

The ConnectID option adds to Persona's broader set of age assurance methods for clients in regulated environments. The company presents it as an alternative to conventional checks that rely on collecting copies of identity documents and retaining them for compliance purposes.

For businesses, that distinction also affects data handling. Avoiding the collection of passports and driving licences can reduce the burden and risk of storing highly sensitive personal information, particularly for large consumer platforms processing checks at scale.

Daniel Lee, Product Manager at Persona, described the rollout as part of a broader effort to support companies facing different age assurance rules across multiple markets. "We are incredibly excited to continue supporting industry leaders in the navigation of complex age assurance rollouts globally," Lee said.

He added: "By integrating ConnectID into the Persona platform, we are empowering our partners to meet rigorous local standards with privacy-first methods."

Privacy focus

ConnectID is an Australian digital identity network that links organisations seeking verified information with trusted data sources. In this case, it serves as the bridge between banks and online services that need age confirmation, while limiting the transfer of underlying personal data.

Rick Iversen, Head of ConnectID, outlined the rationale for the model. "Our priority is to protect young people online without creating new privacy risks," Iversen said.

He added: "By acting as a secure bridge between banks and online platforms, we're enabling organizations to responsibly meet new obligations under the social media legislation, while keeping sensitive personal data entirely out of the process."

Both companies were also involved in the 2025 Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial, which examined technical options for protecting children from harmful content online. They said both providers were assessed at some of the highest technology readiness levels in the programme, indicating that their systems were considered ready for deployment in Australia.

The launch reflects a broader shift in age verification towards methods that confirm an outcome, such as whether a user is above a threshold, rather than exposing a full identity record. In Australia, where regulators and platforms are weighing both child safety and privacy concerns, that distinction is becoming central to the design of age checks.