Government trial of facial age analysis technology begins

The aim is to identify technology that can be used to help staff check the age of customers and prevent alcohol and other age-restricted products from being mis-sold.

Among those taking part in the trials is Innovative Technology, an Oldham-based firm which uses facial analysis to evaluate age.

The firm’s ICU system performs anonymous age estimation entirely offline, so no images or data are stored, maintaining privacy.

The firm’s system is said to assess age accurately to within 0.19 years and has been independently assessed by the Age Check Certification Service (ACCS).

Tony Allen, chief executive of ACCS, said: “The technology behind the ICU age-verification device earned independent recognition from the ACCS during a series of accuracy tests that took place in April 2021, concluding that their solution is fit for deployment in a Challenge25 policy area.”