Second Life steps up ID checks

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Second Life creator, Linden Lab, is tightening security in its virtual world by introducing an identity verification (IDV) system for its residents.

The IDV system is designed to stop people under the age of 18 accessing restricted areas which contain adult or inappropriate material.

Second Life - the business evolution

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The system uses an ID verification technology called Integrity, developed by verification and data services company Aristotle.

Robin Harper, vice president of marketing and community development at Linden Lab, said this is an "important and necessary step in the development of Second Life".

She added that as users have the option to verify aspects of their real life identity they can build trust in the virtual community.

Signing up to IDV is voluntary but content providers are being encouraged to restrict areas to prevent inappropriate material being accessed by minors.

Residents will be able to preserve their anonymity and access unrestricted content if they don't sign up but won't benefit from the increased trust within the community.

Users who sign up to the IDV system enter personal details - such as a driving licence number, for example - in the 'my account' section of the Second Life homepage.

These details are then verified against the relevant public database and, provided the resident makes the grade, they will then be given the green light to access the restricted regions.

The information entered is not retained by Second Life or the Integrity system but is used solely for the verification process, according to Linden Lab.

The technology is currently available in a beta version of Second Life, which can only be accessed by Second Life landowners, but Linden Lab said it will soon be rolled out to the rest of the virtual world.