UK-based identity tech start-up, OneID®, has gained full ACCS accreditation, meaning its ground-breaking technology is certified to authenticate the age of over 40 million people online in the UK, helping to keep both businesses and consumers safe when operating online.

The ACCS accreditation corroborates that OneID®, as an Age Check Provider, can effectively identify appropriate levels of assurance to users of their Age Verification products. 

OneID® is pioneering solutions to digital identity across its Age Verification, Verified ID and Verified Sign up and Sign in products. There is an ever-increasing demand for sophisticated digital identity technology, particularly in the UK, as The Online Safety Bill highlights the urgent need for age regulations to be put in place to protect the young and those vulnerable to abuse online. Age verification technology can mitigate the vulnerability of young online users to protect them from a multitude of risks such as social media abuse and being able to purchase knives, blades, alcohol, or corrosive substances online.

Within the need for more secure digital identity verification is the requirement to curb the risk of mis-selling to underage buyers online. It is illegal to sell vapes, alcohol and knives, blades, or corrosive substances to anyone under the age of 18 in the UK. It is the seller's responsibility to ensure that they avoid mis-selling to underage users and can face fines and/or prosecution of they fail to do so effectively. Using OneID®’s products is one-way retailers can avoid mis-selling to underage buyers and can help them to avoid fines and prosecution in court. 

Vijay Nagarajan, who is Head of Business Strategy and Performance at OneID®, commented: “OneID®’s certification with ACCS is another step closer to achieving our dream of keeping our customer’s information safe online, delivering a social purpose of safeguarding their information and respecting our customer’s privacy.”

OneID®’s innovative technology has already gained multi-sector interest and the firm has recently partnered with brands such as DocuSign and Sports Alliance. 

Aside from ACCS certification, OneID® is also certified to give Primary Authority assured advice which was developed by Milton Keynes Trading Standards as part of a Primary Authority coordinated partnership with OneID®. This will be issued to OneID® customers when they adopt their age authentication services. The combination of the PA-assured advice around the certified OneID® service puts retailers selling age-restricted goods online in a very strong position to adhere to all relevant laws. OneID® was built with the social purpose of creating trust online at the heart of what it does and these accreditations are reflective of that.