Alternative Verification methods

To put it bluntly we're at a standstill about the credit card verification BS. You have one side that claim its THE method of age verification while the other side is saying its not good enough because kids have easy access to credit cards. From all this I have yet to see anyone come up with something better so I decided to throw in my 2 cents and hope it sparks some kind of actual constructive thought processes in some people so we might come up with something better.

Ok I've come up with at least 2 alternatives to credit cards: 3rd party identity processor and Driver's Liscense/State ID verification. Both of these are commonly used by online payment processors and businesses to verify your identity to process business transactions. Prime example would be requiring your Driver's liscense to be able to pay with a check at a store.

Now one method of seen used by 3rd party identity verifiers is the requirement of a valid email, valid phone number, and valid address. First they send you an email with a verification link. Once email is verified they do a lookup on your phone number to see if the information you provided matches up. If the same surname exists on the number they usually call the number to verify the identity verbally. If the info from the phone number doesn't match up at all the verification process ends or they still call to verify. If all is good from there a letter with an access code is sent to the address provided. Goto their website, enter the code, agree to the terms and the process is complete.

While that does work I think the Driver's Liscense/State ID would work better. It is commonly used to verify identity at stores and such to cash personal checks and I'm pretty sure the federal government would jump up and down at the chance to protect minors from possible pediphiles. This holds the most accurate information regarding one's identity including age, however, it does have its draw backs such as being a bit discriminatory against non-american players.

I admit neither of these methods are perfect, but its better then nothing and takes a few more steps then just "Oh he has a credit card he must be an adult!" I just think instead of just whining and b!tching at LL we should do something constructive and come up with better methods because it looks like LL isn't gonna budge on this topic unless we come up with a better way. Otherwise if you have a reason to be scared of liability mod your vendors to prevent sales to non-verifieds, lock them out your parcels/sims, and don't associate with them.

Maybe in the USA.

That won't work for international accounts. And I, being an expat, have no ID card where I live, as I am not a citizen of the country, and no drivers license at all. (long lapsed, don't own a car, no need).

My only document to verify age online is via passport number.

If you actually read, and not skim read, you'll see the last line of that paragraph states:



So yes, I know it doesn't work for everyone. But like I said in my previous post, I'm hoping that this topic sparks some fesible ideas to help with the situation at hand.

you do know Anshe Chung lives in the same country I do, and possibly, has the same problem as myself.

Not gonna happen, unless they have ways that are truly international.

The best way is what I have already suggested. Limit free accounts to PG sims.

But by doing that you're defeating the purpose of disabling the registration checks: numbers.
Who's going to play SL without mature areas?

This sounds good to me.

Briana Dawson

I don't use SL for the mature content.

I also have no idea providing any information needed to LL to be able to access mature areas to set up remote shops, visit friends, etc. etc.

The idea of restricting non-verified accounts to PG sims sounds great to me, though I do think the registration process needs a little more "age verification" than a cell phone number.

"Mom, can I borrow your phone a sec? I want to play one of the games on it."

Text message sent, received, code entered, account verified. Nope... not good enough.

All the better reason for them to upgrade from a free account to a premium account so they get access to the mature sims.

Briana Dawson

I just managed to rid myself of a 15 year old fake medical student only to replace him with a 13 year old canadian neo-nazi. I don't willingly associate with them but they follow me around anyway, even though they aren't friended, obviously. Persistent little buggers.

F*CK no. See, I was a premium account until about 6 months ago, the lindens charged up my card 1000 dollars for no reason- TALK ABOUT THE OVERDRAFT FEES!!!!!!- like one day they'd charge me 100USD, then 2USDs, then 200USDs, then .02USDs. Like fuck I'd ever give them my information ever again. sadly though I had to give them something to pay off this last "5$ non-existant land fee" they made up before I went back to basic, so they still have that card number. But really, banning me to a pg sim, that'd really piss me off.... I'd have to come after you all in my blind rage. So no, that idea will not work, so put that one in the trash with the rest of them. I am a basic account and i am poud, no more being scammed by the evil lindenX system! I got all my money back from them and then froze it on the card thx god.

I got a good response from Robin Linden on my post. Go look. Maybe your tinfoil hat needs adjusting

I suspect the majority of teens who sign up won't care. And if someone wants their pr0n or virtual simulated sex, they can fill in their paypal or CC info and get verified. Most teens balk when entering this information. It's not foolproof, but it's a good deterrent to the disposable teen griefer alt problem. You put in real life payment information, your identity is that much easier to verify when necessary. If it doesnt match or jive when their ass gets caught for griefing, well, buhbye. PG sims have much stricter behaviour guidelines and LL's backside is better covered if minors with unverified trial accounts are only able to access sims which bar mature content.

I have little time or patience for conspiracy theories, for me it's clear that LL opened up registration not merely for numbers, but to make it easier for people to get a taste of SL who may be initially skittish to enter payment information. Just getting them in to look is half the battle. It's unfortunate that they chose summer to do this promotion though, right when the latchkey kiddies are out of school.

(I worked for an online service, so I do have some clue what I am talking about)

I don't play SL for the mature content either. However, there are a lot of sims I frequent that are marked mature, yet contain little to no mature content.
If, item by item and parcel by parcel, mark things mature and restrict that way... well, I still wouldn't like it, but at least it'd be more refined.

If you came after me in all your blind rage, expect to be banned by SL for violating global standards. plus, if that happened to you exactly as you say, why are you still here? Threatening me leads me to be quite suspicious of your situation.

They did say they are moving to a system where you can enter in information to card you without needed payment info. But US methods of verification will not work in Europe. Or any other country outside the USA. It can only work for US residents. So it will necessarily have to be rather complex, to accomodate those who can't be verified via US methods.

hmm what do other internaltional communities do?

i played wow, and well you have to use a cred or buy time, we had international players on the us servers, lebanon, germany, yadda yadda.. i am curious how they do it...
hmmm...

well... how do all of the people not in the us purchase things on the web?

You still supplied an ID verification, remember there are 2 forms of basic account now: Verified and UnVerified. You my friend are a Verified Basic even though you froze the card. And I agree that NON-Verifieds should be restricted to PG sims. It'll keep the kiddies out of easy access adult places and it'll give the throw away account griefers some issues as they won't be able to grief Mature Sims wich make up a bulk of SL.

Most credit cards (especially the big 4: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and AMEX) are accepted and issued world wide.

hmm.. so what is wrong with using a cred card? and charging 1 penny for the account?

cause if my daughter took my cred card and i checked it and i saw a 1 penny charge i would question her..

we have credit cards in Europe, but they aren't widespread everywhere. But you do see more of them than say a decade ago. Most people pay them off monthly via their bank account and don't have credit balances on them, though - working more or less like debit cards rather than charge cards.

Paypal is in Europe, too. I can't speak for any other countries, though.

how about using a verified paypal account?

Ooooh...

 
 
CREDIT CARD STATEMENT
 
Boring Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . $499.00
Exciting Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47.96
SecondLife (MATURE CONTENT) . . . . . . . $0.01
Pie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24321.99
 

I like it.

exactly!

He was being sarcastic. Look at his example bill.. what will you realisticly take notice of more? That little $0.01 charge for SL or that $24321.99 charge for a pie? Keep in mind alot of people also don't bother looking at what was purchased unless they see the final balance and/or total due looks off.

That's possible in many European countries, too.

(MATURE CONTENT)

how bout that? and im not being sarcastic

what countries is it not possible?