This article answers some frequently asked questions about identity verification and its use in Second Life.
What is identity verification?
It’s a means of verifying aspects of who you are in real life, such
as age or location, by checking information you provide against public
records.
Why do we need it?
Identity verification provides an additional layer of trust for
inworld businesses and Residents. It also helps ensure that minors can
not gain access to inappropriate content in Second Life or have access
to restricted content inworld.
How does it work?
Residents will provide a few simple details about their identity –
generally, name, date of birth, and address. Additionally, Residents
will be asked to provide specific identifying information, such as, for
example, a driver’s license number, passport or national ID card
number, or the last four digits of a social security number (this is
dependent on where geographically the Resident is based). This is then
cross-checked against pre-existing databases of public record, to
verify relevant aspects of a Resident’s identity.
Do I have to submit to identity verification?
No. This is completely voluntary. For example, you need only provide
age verification if you choose to enter areas in Second Life that have
been flagged as having restricted content.
What do you mean by “flagged as having restricted content”?
Estate and parcel owners will be requested to flag the presence of
restricted content on their land. Access to that area will then be
restricted to verified Residents only. Flagging restricted areas
provides notice to adults that content contained in the area may be
objectionable to them. It also provides an added layer of protection
against minors who have gained unauthorized access to the world of
Second Life.
Why are you doing this now?
The growing popularity of Second Life gives rise to the need to add
measures of security so that Second Life remains a safe environment for
all Residents. We also want to make sure that Residents have the tools
they need to interact with the community in a way that works for them.
This is a more effective way of identification than "payment
information on file", which some Residents use to evaluate whether they
can trust another individual.
What documents do I need to prove my identity?
Exact documents may vary depending on your country of residence, but may include:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- National ID number
- Social security number
I’m outside the US. Does it work the same in each country?
The exact information required for identity verification may vary
from country to country, but the system works in generally the same way
around the world.
What types of activities in Second Life will require age verification?
Access to areas that Residents and businesses have flagged as containing restricted content will require age verification.
Who will need to verify their age?
Anyone wishing to access restricted content will need to verify
their age in advance. It's just like going into a bar: you need to
prove your age.
What if I’m under 18?
Minors are not allowed in Second Life. Please access Teen Second Life to enjoy Second Life if you are under 18. Only Residents between the ages of 13 and 17 are allowed to access Teen Second Life.
What if I want to remain anonymous?
Residents over the age of 18 can still remain anonymous if they wish
to remain in areas of Second Life that do not contain restricted
content. Identity verification will only be required at this time for
access to restricted content.
What if adult content is not flagged as restricted?
We strongly encourage land holders to flag any restricted content
and restrict their parcels, to avoid minors inadvertently accessing it.
If Residents and businesses choose not to do this, we expect that such
behavior will be reported by the community itself. As has always been
the case, Residents are morally, socially and legally responsible for
their actions and content in Second Life. Clearly, any illegal activity
or content will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken.
What personal information will you store?
Linden Lab will not store any specific, identifying information. Our
verification provider will assess the consistency of the provided
information and return a match code; at that point, a Resident becomes
verified. The entire process takes less than two minutes, and will be
available internationally. Our verification provider will only use
information to provide a match code and the only information stored by
Linden Lab will be whether or not there was a match.
Do I have to pay for verification?
Verification will initially be free; as we roll out the system we
expect there to be a nominal fee for Premium members, and a larger fee
for people with Basic memberships.
Do I have to verify each avatar I use?
You will have to verify each separate avatar that you use, but there
are no limits on the number of avatars you can have verified. This can
all be done under the ‘my account’ section of the Second Life Web site.
As a parcel/Estate owner, how do I flag content as restricted?
Land owners should find a checkbox in their land management tools
that they can select if they have restricted content on their land. In
the Second Life viewer, it's in the About Land window's Options tab. There's a checkbox labeled Mature Content under Land Options.
What is defined as “Restricted Content”?
We trust that common sense will prevail. As a general rule,
“Restricted Content” is any content that is explicitly sexual or
excessively violent in nature.
What happens if I don’t flag my restricted content?
We believe that most landowners will want to take steps to prevent
minors being exposed to restricted content. All content creators and
businesses are morally and legally responsible for their activities. We
strongly advise landowners to take advantage of these tools to prevent
inappropriate use by those who may have accessed the adult grid using
fraudulent information. Land containing adult content that is not
clearly marked will be easily identifiable by the community. This will
enable the community to raise concerns directly with the landowner or
with Linden Lab via the Abuse channel. The burden of responsibility
lies with the parcel and estate owner for the content displayed and
activities offered on their land. The identity verification system
provides those owners with the means to protect themselves, their
customers and visitors.
Doesn’t payment information count as age verification?
Payment information was never meant to be proof of age. In fact, credit cards are not restricted to people over the age of 18,
nor are credit cards available in all countries. In the past, we have
recognized accounts as verified when we receive complete payment
information; however, this process does not serve as a substitute for
age verification.
What happens if I experience problems when I try to verify my identity?
We are committed to making sure the process is as smooth and
user-friendly as possible; however, we understand that this represents
a change for Residents. We have also tested the system extensively with
our systems provider, Integrity, which has a great track record in
delivering this type of technology to other companies. Issues should be
directed to the Second Life Support Portal.
How can I be sure that my information will be treated securely when I enter it on the My Account section?
The data will be transmitted securely via SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
to Integrity. This is a standard, secure way of transmitting data over
the Web, and is used by many online businesses. For example: if you’ve
ever paid a bill online, chances are it was with SSL in place.
Will my personal information ever be shared with anyone else?
Linden Lab does not share Resident data for marketing or other
purposes, but does of course comply with the authorities or court
orders when required, for example in the case of a legal subpoena.
