Germany, the UK, and France have introduced new age verification laws. As a result, new Tryst.link providers signing up from those countries will have to verify they are 18 or older using an independent company. This process is called third-party age verification. We've engaged a company called Yoti to carry out this verification, starting with new providers signing up from IP addresses in Germany.
Read on to learn more about what third-party age verification might mean for you and how we are working with Yoti to ensure a smooth, accurate process.
What’s third-party age verification?
Third-party age verification means an independent company assists Tryst.link in verifying you are 18 or older. This process is in addition to the verification photo you provide Tryst.link at sign-up. Yoti will delete your personal information after 28 days.
When will third-party age verification be introduced?
We intend to roll out third-party age verification to new providers from these countries in stages. If you are a new provider with an IP address in Germany then third-party age verification will soon apply to you, and you will need to complete this as part of your sign-up process. If you are in the UK or France this will be introduced with Yoti in the future.
I’m a current Tryst.link provider. Will I need to verify my age again?
No, if you are an existing Tryst.link provider who has already completed your age verification with Tryst.link, this change does not currently apply to you. However, if you are using Tryst.link from Germany, the UK, or France, and you need to reverify for some other reason—for example, if you lose access to your authenticator app, or you verified using a very old process—you may need to complete third-party age verification.
I’m a new provider with an IP address in Germany, the UK, or France. What will I have to do?
If you are a provider signing up to Tryst.link for the first time—welcome!
New providers signing up for the first time from Germany, UK, or France will need to complete third-party age verification with Yoti in the near future. You will complete the Yoti process along with the Tryst.link verification checks.
Third-party age verification is quick and mostly automated. Here’s how the process works.
Step 1. You'll need a few minutes of your time and be prepared with:
- a reliable internet connection
- a valid government-issued ID
- a device with a camera (i.e. smartphone, tablet, or webcam)
Step 2. The process will ask you to take a selfie and a photo of your valid government-issued ID.
Step 3. Yoti will check that your ID meets the requirements of your ID type, that it belongs to you, and that you are a real person.
Step 4. Our team will receive your selfie from Yoti. We will use this to verify that your Yoti selfie and Tryst.link verification photo match. On occasion, a member of our team may double-check Yoti’s decision.
Step 5. Tryst.link keeps a record confirming you have been independently verified as 18 or older, and a copy of your selfie. We do not keep a copy of your ID documents.
Step 6. Yoti will delete your personal information after 28 days.
What is Yoti?
Yoti is a global identity company that helps people verify their identity online. Yoti uses a secure process to detect fraudulent IDs and ensure the person submitting their ID owns it.
Importantly, Yoti is used widely outside the adult industry. Yoti can’t identify which websites you use your ID for, so using Yoti does not automatically out you as a sex worker.
Why is Tryst.link working with a third party?
We are working with a third party to verify the ages of some of our providers because regulations in some countries—such as Germany, the UK, and France—require us to do so. We need to comply with local laws to keep Tryst.link and your profiles online.
We chose a specialist company like Yoti because it has appropriate systems to assess global IDs and detect fraud, while keeping the process fast, accurate, and secure.
We are fiercely protective of your data. We chose this path as we believe working with Yoti is the best way we can comply and protect your personal information.
Why did Tryst.link choose Yoti?
We know your personal information is sensitive and that providing it to companies online can be highly stressful. For this reason, staff members at Tryst.link submitted their own IDs to see exactly what new providers would experience end to end.
After completing this, alongside months of detailed technical reviews, we feel confident that Yoti is a fit-for-purpose, privacy-focused solution that meets our community's needs. Yoti is also a certified B Corp, meaning it aligns with Tryst.link’s high standards for social responsibility, sustainability, and transparency.
How will my data be protected?
Importantly, Yoti's systems are built with structural limits that protect privacy and ensure informed consent.
- Yoti can’t identify which websites you use your ID for. It can’t be used to track your activity across the internet.
- Yoti does not store your identifying information as one complete file. Your data is separated and encrypted.
- Yoti will delete your personal information after 28 days.
More details about Yoti and personal data can be found on Yoti’s website along with Yoti’s full privacy policy.
Tryst.link’s priority is always keeping sex workers safe and your profile online. We know that dealing with new ID checks can be frustrating, but we are here to make things as smooth and as safe as possible. We are committed to making sure the process is accurate and that personal data shared with Yoti is deleted after 28 days.
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
We started the Tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨
