Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are
Ike Tech is developing age-verification technology for vapes using biometric data and blockchain to potentially unlock flavored vape sales in the US.Summary
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering allowing flavored vapes back on the market if manufacturers can reliably verify user age. Ike Tech, a partnership between Ispire Technology and Chemular, believes it has a solution using biometric data, blockchain, and a Bluetooth connection to a user’s phone. The system scans ID, verifies facial recognition, and creates anonymized tokens to unlock the vape. While Ike Tech claims a 100% success rate and has received positive feedback from the FDA, critics like Stanton Glantz remain skeptical, citing potential workarounds and privacy concerns. The technology also raises questions about shared use and personal responsibility. Ike Tech plans to license the technology to other companies and potentially expand it to other age-restricted products like firearms.
(Source：Wired)
