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Age Assurance Technology Trial

Official Test & Evaluation Partner

Test & Evaluation Partner

KJR was part of the consortium to deliver the Australian Government’s Age Assurance Technology Trial. The consortium was led by the Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) and reported to the Australian Federal Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Experts in technology risk management, Trusted AI adoption, and software quality assurance, as the Test & Evaluation Partner for the project, KJR led the efforts in the technology evaluation aspects of the trial to ensure solutions are robust, scalable, and aligned with industry standards and user expectations.

Read the full case study
THE PROJECT

Age Assurance Technology Trial

The Age Assurance Technology Trial (AATT) was a key plank of the Australian Government’s online safety agenda and aimed to determine the effectiveness of available technologies to better protect young people by limiting their access to harmful and inappropriate content online.

These technologies will be considered as options to prevent access to online pornography by children and young people under the age of 18, and age-limit access to social media platforms for those under 16 years of age in line with the Government’s commitment.

These technologies include:

Age Verification

Cheching identity credentials to confirm age.

Age Estimation and Inference

Using biometric markers or digital patterns to determine age, including AI-based analysis.

Parental Certification or Controls

Mechanisims to involve guardians in online access

The department is working closely with industry and communities to deliver the Age Assurance Trial, which will play an important role in determining the most effective way to protect young people online.

Andrew Irwin, Assistant Secretary, Online Safety Branch

The trial invited Australians to participate in real-world testing of these technology solutions, assessing their effectiveness, readiness, and applicability within the Australian context.

The results of this trial were used to inform future policies aimed at enhancing online safety standards and guide the implementation of age assurance technology across platforms accessed by Australians.

explore the final report

FUNDED BY

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts
KJR EXPERTISE

Leaders in Risk Management

This trial evaluated various age assurance technologies which included biometric age verification, AI-based analysis of physical features, getting parental consent and using email verification.

As a leader in technology risk management, Trusted AI adoption, and software quality assurance, KJR led the efforts in the technology evaluation in aspects of the trial, including: testing age verification/age estimation technologies and parental controls and certification technologies, AI testing, technology stack deployments, and technology readiness assessments to ensure solutions are robust, scalable, and aligned with industry standards and user expectations.

AATT Banner

As the father of three (3) daughters who navigated their high schooling (2013 – 2024) through the rise of social media I’ve seen first-hand the good, the bad and the ugly impacts of social media can have on our young people. KJR is honoured to have front row seats for the unbiased evaluation of the various Age Assurance technologies in the Australian context and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

Andrew Hammond, KJR ACT General Manager & Deputy Director & Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) for AATT

THE KJR TEAM

Deputy Project Director & Chair of STAC

Andrew Hammond Profile Picture
Andrew Hammond
General Manager ACT & NSW

Evaluation Activity Leads (STAC)

Kelvin Ross profile picture
Dr. Kelvin Ross
Chairman
Mark Pedersen profile picture
Dr. Mark Pedersen
CTO
KJR EXPERTISE

Approach to Evaluation

KJR EXPERTISE

Approach to Evaluation

The development of the approach to evaluation was led by a Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) chaired by Deputy Project Director, Andrew Hammond.

The development of the test protocols, biometric and test subject data capture, sampling and statistical analysis and ensuring the research is robust, repeatable, reproducible and statistically sound, was supported by a team of product quality and software evaluation engineers from KJR all undertaken in Australia.

Ethics

The ethical approach included analysis and extent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and multi-ethnic diverse communities in the demographic spread of human test subjects including through the application of the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research.

Working with KJR’s Cultural Advisor, Johnny Fejo, the project included initial and ongoing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring to identify where any aspects of the project have EDI consequences and put in place appropriate measures and controls to address them.

Teechnology Evaluation

Evaluation Proposal

The Evaluation Proposal Report outlines the framework and approach for evaluating age assurance technologies in Australia as part of the Age Assurance Technology Trial. It details the methodology for assessing the effectiveness of age verification, age estimation, and parental control technologies and their compliance with key criteria such as accuracy, reliability, interoperability, privacy, and security.

The document provides an in-depth understanding of age assurance technology within the Australian context, covering online safety, privacy, and digital identity legislation, as well as compliance with the Australian Signals Directorate’s Information Security Manual and specific program requirements. It also includes a literature review of relevant domestic and international research on age assurance technologies.

The evaluation process is designed to be standardised and replicable, leveraging:
  • ISO/IEC 25040: systems and software quality requirements and evaluation
  • ISO/IEC DIS 25766: age assurance systems framework
  • IEEE 2089.1: online age checking systems
  • ISO/IEC 29119: software engineering test design methods

KJR CTO, Dr Mark Pedersen, and KJR Consultant, Adrian Ugray, participated in the drafting of the report.

download the evaluation proposal
FEATURED IN THE HEADLINES

Media Hub

reuters

Australia's teen social media ban fails to clear first hurdle in age checks, says study

Read here
the next web

Australia’s under-16 social media ban stumbles at the first age check, testers find

Read here
New release

20/06/25 - Age Assurance Technology Trial publishes twelve preliminary findings ahead of full report

Read here
newscientist

Australia's social media ban faces challenges and criticism on day one​

Read here
biometric update

Testing age checks for Oz: Andrew Hammond of KJR talks trust on BU Podcast​

listen here
abc news

Trial finds age assurance can be done, as under-16s social media ban deadline looms​

Read here
courier-mail

Social media age-limit trial a success​

Read here
acs information age

'None were perfect': Tech tested for social media age ban​

Read here
abc news

Six months out from teen social media ban, age-checking tech mistakes kids for 37-year-olds​

Read here
nhk world japan

Australia readies for social media ban for children

watch here
the guardian

Tech trial for Australia’s social media ban ‘broadly on track’ amid concerns under-16s could circumvent systems​

Read here
reuters

Australia's teen social media ban faces a new wildcard: teenagers​

Read here
biometric update

Test lab, bias considerations for Australia age assurance trial revealed​

Read here
innovationaus

Age assurance trial casts wide net for world-first scheme

Read here
reuters

After Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it​

Read here
aiia connector magazine

Age Assurance Technology Trial​

Read here
mi3

Social Media Ban tech trial project team revealed

Read here

About Us

KJR is an Australian Software Quality Engineering Consultancy and a leading practitioner in Trusted AI adoption. Founded in 1997, we have decades of experience working with ASX 100 companies and all levels of government departments (Federal, State and Local). We specialise in AI and data assurance, governance, DevSecOps, and testing, empowering organisations to navigate digital advancements securely and efficiently.

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Contact us for more information about the AATT project & Media Enquiries

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Andrew Profile Picture

Andrew Hammond

– General Manager ACT & NSW

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A self-proclaimed ‘technology addict’, Andrew (or Drew) has been at the helm of KJR’s ACT operations since 2009. From two people to over 30 consultants today, the Canberra office has soared under his guidance serving multiple Federal government clients and branching into the broader set of KJR services over the past few years. Not one to miss out, Andrew takes a hands-on approach with projects, keeping his carefully-honed skills polished and at the ready.
 
Andrew’s other passion is sport. Whether it’s ‘netball dad’ duties or riding his bicycle around Australia in the TourXOz for a fantastic cause, he’s the embodiment of a man on a mission. And when work and sport collide, Andrew creates an iOS app to improve the experience for supporters of multiple netball teams.
Kelvin Ross Profile Image

Kelvin Ross

– Chairman

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Dr Kelvin Ross is an entrepreneur, technologist and researcher with 30 years’ experience in software engineering, safety-critical systems and enterprise IT.

He began his career in safety-critical software engineering in defence, working on FA-18 airborne radar systems, before completing a PhD in safety-critical systems engineering and spending several years consulting in defence and transportation systems. He then moved into the commercial sector, founding KJR, a mid-tier IT consultancy specialising in software testing and assurance across e-health, public administration, finance, insurance, retail and telecommunications.

 

Kelvin has contributed to several boards and national committees, including IntelliHQ, a healthcare AI innovation NFP, Chair of the Qld AI Hub, ACS national technical committee for AI Safety. He is an Associate Adjunct Professor at Griffith University’s Institute for Intelligent and Integrated Systems. Over the past two years he has been applying agentic AI tools hands-on across coding, test automation and delivery, and speaks regularly on AI safety, governance and assurance. 

Mark Pedersen profile image

Mark Pedersen

– CTO

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Mark is an IT professional with a passion for digital culture. During the week, he leads his team at KJR through straight-talking solutions to software problems. In his spare time, he can be found crafting soundscapes and audio/visual installations that embrace technology’s propensity for playfulness and expression.


He first honed his aptitude for software innovation and assurance as a postgrad research assistant at the University of Queensland, where he went on to complete a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, focusing on language technology. It was there he befriended KJR founder Kelvin Ross and they bonded over a shared enthusiasm for fine-tuning software and risk mitigation strategies. He’s been with KJR ever since, taking a few years off to teach IT in the Middle East before returning in 2006 to open the Melbourne branch.


As CTO, Mark’s technical knowledge and lateral thinking abilities are counted on to lead critical software projects safely out of the red and into the light. And, as a world-class software risk analyst and advisor, he thrives on the satisfaction of bettering lives with technology that actually works.


Within the broader industry ecosystem, Mark is a member of the ACS AI in Society Committee, helping to shaping responsible AI usage in Australia, and regularly contributes to international discussion on AI Governance and quality assurance.