Russia Tests Age Verification via MAX Messenger’s Digital ID
An innovative system is being piloted through the country’s national messaging platform.
Two of the largest supermarket chains in Moscow and the surrounding region have begun testing a new age-verification system. To purchase alcohol or other age-restricted products, shoppers can scan a dynamic QR code at self-checkout terminals using the Digital ID section in their MAX profile. The approach makes age confirmation faster and more secure, representatives of the national messenger told IT-Russia.
Digital ID is an electronic counterpart to physical documents integrated into the messaging app. It can be used to verify a user’s age, large-family status, or student status. To create a Digital ID, users confirm their identity via biometric data, a new-generation international passport, or a driver’s license. According to the press service, this is not a simple scan of a passport but a secure digital profile tied to a specific device.
A Core Element of Digital Life
The QR code refreshes every 30 seconds and cannot be saved via screenshots. Access requires Face ID or a fingerprint, reducing the risk of fraud to virtually zero.
The audience of the national messenger MAX has already reached 80 million users. Integrating services such as Digital ID is turning the app into a core element of everyday digital life for Russians.
After the testing phase, the service is expected to be rolled out nationwide.
