Ensuring the success of a video game is a challenging feat in itself. However, navigating the increasingly complex landscape of child safety laws and regulations worldwide adds an additional layer of difficulty. K-ID, a new technology company accessible at k-ID, aims to simplify this process for game developers by providing a framework that safeguards them against the risks associated with non-compliance, such as regulatory penalties, damage to reputation, and other repercussions.
Co-founded by CEO Kieran Donovan, an attorney specializing in advising tech and gaming companies on global compliance, k-ID is the culmination of his expertise in the legal and regulatory aspects of scaling games and social platforms. Drawing on his experience in navigating companies through regulatory frameworks and cultural sensitivities, Donovan and his team at k-ID have developed a solution to address these challenges.
“You get asked the same question time over and time over…and the light bulb goes on and you think, ‘Wait a minute, there’s an opportunity for someone to actually build something for everyone to solve some of these challenges in the kids, teens and parents space,” Donovan tells TechCrunch.
Over the past 18 months, k-ID’s solution has been crafted with input from co-founders with backgrounds in privacy law, online trust and safety, as well as tech and gaming. Alongside Donovan, k-ID’s executive team features Chief Safety Officer Jeff Wu, Chief Growth Officer Julian Corbett, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Luc Delany, CTO Aakash Mandhar, and soon-to-be Chief Legal Officer Timothy Ma.
Image Credits: k-ID
Developers face the challenge of identifying if children are using their platform, as traditional age verification methods may fall short. With k-ID, developers have the ability to tailor the game experience to comply with legal requirements based on the user’s age and location.
To utilize k-ID, developers can access the solution through APIs or an SDK on mobile platforms. The service determines the legal definition of a child in each market where the games are available and assists developers in customizing the gaming experience accordingly for children, teenagers, or adults.
Since its launch, k-ID’s solution has entered early access and is now widely available, offering APIs and SDKs to customize game experiences. Publishers can also access k-ID’s compliance-focused database and opt for a “family portal” feature for parental control. Pricing varies based on the number of active players per gaming title.
The geographically distributed team has secured a total of $5.4 million in funding from pre-seed and seed rounds, with backing from investors like a16z Games Speedrun, Konvoy Ventures, and TIRTA Ventures.
