- Google has launched a new age verification feature in Google Wallet using Zero-Knowledge Proof technology
- The system enables users to confirm their age without revealing personal details like birthdates
- Dating app Bumble is among the first to adopt this privacy-preserving method
Google Wallet has decided to use Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to power a privacy-centric age verification feature. This advancement allows users to prove they meet age requirements without disclosing sensitive personal information and utilizes technology commonly found in privacy coins. Dating app Bumble has become the first client to integrate this system, enhancing user privacy during age verification processes.
A New Era of Digital Privacy
Traditional age verification methods often require sharing personal documents or full birthdates, raising concerns about data security and user tracking. Google’s use of ZKP addresses this issue by allowing users to demonstrate they are of legal age without exposing unnecessary details. “We wanted to develop a system that not only verifies age, but does it in a way that protects your privacy,” Google stated in its official announcement.
Zero-Knowledge Proof is a cryptographic method that lets one party prove a statement—such as being over 18—without revealing any underlying information. Within Google Wallet, this technology enables users to pass age checks securely and anonymously. Instead of transmitting exact birthdates, the system verifies a minimum age through encrypted exchanges using digital credentials issued by trusted sources.
Real-World Applications and Future Expansion
The privacy-friendly system has already found a real-world use case with dating platform Bumble, where users can now verify their age using this new method. Google has announced plans to expand the use of ZKP in Wallet to include identity credentials like driver’s licenses, and intends to make the technology available to developers through open-source tools.
Google is far from the first commercial giant to use ZKP; in 2018, EY announced that it was using the tech to allow the private and secure creation of product and service tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.
