Why does Azar conduct age assurance?
Safety is a top priority at Azar.
To help keep our community safe and comply with safety laws, Azar conducts different types of age checks to ensure all our users meet our minimum age requirements in accordance with our Terms.
Everywhere Azar operates - Azar checks photos for age assurance
Everywhere Azar operates, to check if you meet our minimum age requirements, we may review your face when your camera is on just before calls start.
We use automated technology to scan the image and look for signs that you might be under 18. This technology does not create, store, or rely on biometric data like face maps.
In the UK and Australia - an additional selfie check
To comply with the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) and the Australian Social Media Minimum Age Regulation (SMMA), Azar has an additional age assurance process in both of these countries.
To do that, Azar uses automated technology to scan your face and generates a short-lived face map to look for signs that you might be under 18. This face map is not used to identify you.
For this additional age check, we ask users to take a video selfie that clearly shows their face so that we can complete the age check process. We keep two audit images from your video selfie.
How does the age check work?
We use automated technology to analyze your image to determine if you are a real person and estimate whether you are over 18.
After your photo is reviewed:
- If we determine you’re likely over 18, you can continue using Azar as usual.
- If we determine that you’re likely under 18, your account will be banned. Information on appealing this decision is available here.
- If we can’t confirm your age, we’ll do a manual review.
If you're a new user undergoing additional verification, your profile won’t be visible to other users and your functionality will be limited until the review is complete.
When you appeal this decision, we may ask for additional verification (such as an ID check) to confirm your age. Information on the appeal process is available here.
For Australian users: You have the option to verify your age using a method other than a personal identification card (e.g., passport or driver’s licence). If you would like to use this alternative method, please contact us through this link
This process provides a way to estimate age while limiting the collection and use of personal information to what’s strictly needed. We use this process to assess whether you meet Azar’s age requirement, not for advertising or uniquely identifying you.
The results of your age check may be used to help train certain machine learning models that support our trust and safety tools, as well as to test and audit those models and tools.
How do you store my data?
Your photo or selfie and moderation records are processed in accordance with Azar’s Privacy Policy.
Your data is securely stored on Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you'd like to learn more about how AWS handles data, you can click here.
If you took a video selfie for age check (UK, Australia)
Azar will keep your audit images for a short period of time for testing, auditing and training our trust and safety tools. Your face map is deleted within 1 day after the check and the results from your age check (pass or fail) will be stored in a secure format for the lifetime of your account. Your age score will be retained for 12 months after the check.
Recurring age assurance conducted when you use Azar
Upon completion of the age check, Azar keeps the image for 3 months after capture and the outcome for the life of the account for testing, auditing and training purposes.
Azar’s data practices
Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more about our privacy practices, including the Your Rights section. For more information about automated decision-making at Azar, check out our FAQ.
I still have questions
Contact us anytime.