Incode joins OpenAge drive for interoperable age checks

Incode has joined the OpenAge Initiative alongside Persona and Veratad, in a move that adds more identity and age-checking providers to an industry effort focused on interoperable, privacy-preserving age assurance.

OpenAge said the three companies will participate in its work on shared approaches for age assurance across online services. The initiative has also drawn commitments from Meta and Socure, according to OpenAge.

Age assurance has risen in prominence as online platforms face tightening expectations from regulators and app stores. Companies have also faced pressure from civil society groups and parents to strengthen protections for minors, while limiting data collection and preserving adult privacy.

OpenAge framework

OpenAge launched in late 2025. It describes its work as a user-centric framework for age assurance that can function across services, jurisdictions and regulatory regimes.

The initiative centres on "AgeKeys", which OpenAge describes as a reusable age credential. A user verifies their age once with a participating provider. The user can then present an age signal to other services that accept AgeKeys.

OpenAge said AgeKeys use open standards and "double-anonymity" principles. The organisation said the design reduces data exposure and limits repeated verification.

OpenAge also pointed to support from the Free Speech Coalition for OpenAge and AgeKey, and described the approach as privacy-preserving and low-friction while maintaining user anonymity and security.

Provider participation

Persona and Incode sell age assurance and identity verification services to online platforms. Veratad sells age and identity assurance services and operates an orchestration product that integrates multiple verification methods.

OpenAge said the addition of Persona, Incode and Veratad expands the number of providers that can support implementations aligned with its initiative.

"The conversation has moved on from whether age assurance is needed to how it can be delivered responsibly at internet scale," said Julian Corbett at OpenAge. "Persona, Incode and Veratad joining the Open Age Initiative is a strong signal that the industry is converging on interoperable, privacy-preserving infrastructure rather than fragmented point solutions."

Companies working on age checks have increasingly argued for approaches that reduce repetition for users who move between services. They have also argued for designs that avoid building large pools of sensitive identity data at individual platforms.

"As regulatory expectations rise globally, platforms need age assurance that is accurate, privacy-respecting, and interoperable by design," said Rick Song, CEO, Persona. "OpenAge provides a practical framework for reusable age signals that can be deployed across real-world systems without adding friction."

Incode focus

Incode said it develops identity and age-verification technology. The company operates internationally and has offices in Europe and Latin America.

"Delivering high-assurance, privacy-first, and low-friction age-verification is fundamental to how we build trust online," said Ricardo Amper, Founder & CEO, Incode. "As interoperability becomes an essential factor for the industry, we're excited to collaborate with OpenAge to bring our security expertise and help set the standards these global initiatives require."

Incode describes its approach as an orchestration platform that combines age estimation and age verification methods. OpenAge lists several possible verification routes for AgeKey, including facial age estimation, credit-card checks and government-ID checks.

Shared infrastructure

Veratad framed OpenAge as an infrastructure initiative rather than a proprietary system. The company said that framing aligns with regulatory debate about proportionality, accountability and privacy.

"What OpenAge is building is shared infrastructure, not another proprietary layer," said John E Ahrens, CEO, Veratad. "That approach closely aligns with how regulators are thinking about proportionality, accountability, and privacy, and it helps create a foundation for interoperable age assurance across services."

OpenAge said AgeKeys have been used millions of times across participating services. It said the approach reduces friction compared with traditional age-verification methods.

OpenAge said it remains open to additional platforms, identity providers and ecosystem partners that want to participate in work on interoperable, privacy-preserving age assurance.