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Google partners with Sparkasse for digital age verification in Europe

Germany's largest savings bank network launches wallet-based age verification system with Google for secure online access controls.

Luis Rijo

• 6 min read
Digital age verification interface showing secure user authentication with privacy controls and verification badges for online safety.
Digital age verification interface showing secure user authentication with privacy controls and verification badges for online safety.

Germany's Sparkasse has partnered with Google to launch the first national wallet-based digital age verification service in the European Union, according to an announcement made on July 1, 2025, at the Global Digital Collaboration Conference in Geneva. The partnership represents a significant step toward addressing long-standing challenges in online age verification while protecting user privacy.

The collaboration enables Sparkasse customers to securely prove their age online using trusted credentials issued by their bank. According to Alan Stapelberg, Group Product Manager at Google Wallet, "The lack of a reliable standard for safe, effective age checks across sites and apps online has long frustrated parents and companies." The new solution integrates directly with Android and Chrome, enabling seamless, one-click age checks on supported websites and applications.

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Summary

Who: Germany's Sparkasse savings bank network (343 regional banks, 50+ million customers) partnering with Google through its Credential Manager API and Google Wallet infrastructure.

What: First national wallet-based digital age verification service in the European Union, enabling customers to securely prove their age online using bank-issued credentials through zero-knowledge proof cryptography.

When: Announced July 1, 2025, at the Global Digital Collaboration Conference in Geneva, with availability expected in the coming months.

Where: Initially launching in Germany through Sparkasse's network, with potential expansion across the European Union as part of broader age assurance initiatives.

Why: Addresses the lack of reliable, safe, and effective age verification standards online while protecting user privacy and enabling platforms to restrict age-inappropriate content and protect children from harmful material.

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Sparkasse operates as Germany's largest savings bank network, comprising 343 regional institutions that serve more than 50 million customers across the country. The partnership establishes Sparkasse as the first national credential partner for EU age assurance, according to the announcement. This collaboration leverages Google's Credential Manager API, which is backed by Google Wallet and zero-knowledge proof cryptography.

The technical implementation centers on Google's Credential Manager API, which creates a secure pipeline for sharing identity information, including age verification. Sites and applications can use this tool to request visitor credentials from mobile wallets or digital age verification applications, securing only necessary age information without revealing additional personal data.

Zero-knowledge proof technology forms the cryptographic foundation of the system. According to Kate Charlet, Global Director of Privacy Safety and Security Policy at Google, this method "enables visitors today to prove they are over 18, without revealing any additional information, including who they are." The technology allows users to confirm their age status while maintaining privacy protections.

The announcement comes as European regulators intensify efforts to implement comprehensive age verification systems across digital platforms. The European Commission has been developing continent-wide technical solutions for digital identities issued by governments and trusted sources. Article 28 guidelines under the Digital Services Act provide a policy framework connecting these technical solutions.

Multiple European countries have implemented or proposed age verification requirements for online platforms. Spain requires users to use the Cartera Digital Beta wallet for accessing adult websites, while Italy's Caivano Decree mandates the national digital identity system SPID for age verification on gambling and pornographic websites starting in 2025. France has issued new guidelines requiring improved age verification controls by April 2025.

The European Data Protection Board established ten fundamental principles for implementing age assurance systems in February 2025. These guidelines emphasize data minimization, requiring organizations to process only age-related attributes necessary for specified purposes. The framework mandates that age verification systems should not enable additional tracking or profiling of users.

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the European Commission has commissioned development of a mobile application serving as a digital wallet for storing age proofs. This application would support multiple verification methods, including national electronic identification schemes, physical identity cards, linking to applications containing user age information, and age assessment through third parties such as banks or notaries.

The technical specifications for age verification applications acknowledge important privacy principles including data minimization, unlinkability, storage limitations, and transparency measures. However, according to analysis by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, "many of the mechanisms envisioned to protect users' privacy are not necessary requirements, but optional."

The zero-knowledge proof implementation faces technical challenges. According to the European Commission's specifications, the application "should implement salted hashes and Zero Knowledge Proofs but is not required to do so." The specifications heavily rely on zero-knowledge proofs while simultaneously acknowledging that no compatible solution is currently available.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about accessibility and participation in digital age verification systems. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation analysis, "none of the options the Commission considers to allow for proving someone's age accounts for the obstacles faced by different marginalized groups, leaving potentially millions of people across the EU unable to access crucial services and information."

The partnership between Sparkasse and Google addresses some accessibility concerns by leveraging existing banking relationships. Bank customers already possess verified identities through know-your-customer processes, potentially streamlining age verification without requiring additional identity documents. This approach may particularly benefit users who lack traditional government-issued identification documents.

Technical implementation details indicate the solution will be available in the coming months. The system supports both embedded and referenced verification methods, allowing flexible implementation approaches across different platforms and applications. Cryptographic material can be expressed using JsonWebKey and Multikey formats, providing standardized frameworks for secure identity verification.

The broader digital advertising landscape has shown increasing focus on age-related targeting controls. Google recently added age exclusion capabilities to Performance Max campaigns in April 2025, addressing advertiser requests for demographic targeting controls. YouTube increased its minimum live streaming age to 16 years starting July 22, requiring adult supervision for younger creators.

The timing of the Sparkasse partnership aligns with broader European regulatory initiatives. The European Union Digital Identity Wallet is expected to be implemented by the end of 2026, creating a comprehensive framework for digital identity verification across member states. The Commission has issued a €4 million budget call for tender to develop EU-wide age verification systems as interim solutions.

Industry responses to age verification requirements have varied significantly. According to Proton VPN data, VPN sign-ups surged dramatically in US states implementing age verification requirements for adult content, with searches for VPN services increasing by 1,750 percent following Texas implementation in March 2024.

The European market presents different dynamics compared to US implementations. European privacy regulations under GDPR create additional requirements for data handling and user consent mechanisms. The Sparkasse partnership attempts to balance regulatory compliance with user privacy through established banking relationships and cryptographic protections.

Looking ahead, Google indicates the solution offers potential for adaptation to more age sources and specific age bands, including verification for users under 18 years old. This expansion depends on further work to define standards and specify appropriate protections for younger users. The company has urged age assurance providers and application developers to build upon the secure infrastructure for Android devices.

Alternative approaches to age verification have emerged from other technology companies. Meta has proposed requiring mobile application stores to verify visitor ages on behalf of applications, though Google has expressed concerns about the effectiveness and privacy implications of this approach. According to Google's analysis, this alternative "would require the sharing of granular age band data with millions of developers who don't need it."

The regulatory landscape continues developing as European authorities balance child protection objectives with privacy rights and digital access concerns. The Sparkasse partnership represents a test case for bank-based age verification systems that could influence broader European age assurance policies.

Implementation challenges remain significant across the digital identity ecosystem. Technical standards must accommodate diverse verification methods while maintaining interoperability across platforms and national boundaries. The success of the Sparkasse pilot may determine the viability of similar partnerships across other European Union member states.

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