Ireland is testing out a digital wallet that conducts age verification for social media users

Before it is made public later this year, the Irish government is testing its government digital wallet, which includes a way to verify a user’s age to access social media platforms. In its press release, the government Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalization said citizens can store digital versions of their birth certificates, driving licenses, European health cards and more.

Frank Feighan, Minister of the Ministry, said this testing phase would help inform the development of the digital wallet and ensure its user-friendliness. The government has not said when the government digital wallet will move beyond the testing phase, but Ireland is required to create a digital wallet by the end of 2026 under a European Union regulation.

“It will be able to facilitate secure age verification capability, as provided for in Digital Ireland and the implementation of the Online Safety Code, under which designated platforms must put in place age verification measures to help protect, in particular, children and young people from harm online,” Feighan said of the Irish digital wallet.

The pilot phase will run on a voluntary basis and the government is making a short survey available to gather feedback and concerns. Besides Ireland, many other European Union member states are working on their own age verification methods. Earlier this year, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a law banning social media for anyone under the age of 16.