SafeGen - Press Kit

SafeGen Press Kit — official media resources on Australia’s parent-verified, privacy-safe age-assurance system. Includes product overview, founder background, compliance, and journalist contact.

SafeGen — Press Kit (One-Page)

What SafeGen Does

SafeGen gives platforms a parent-verified, privacy-safe minor flag without collecting IDs, photos, or personal data. Telco-anchored. Anonymous. Unfakeable. It’s the first enforceable age-assurance layer that doesn’t spy on anyone.

"26 million Australians do not need to be evaluated to protect 2 million minors."

Core Facts (for reporters)

  • No identity collected. Only hashed mobile numbers + hashed expiry dates (16 & 18).

  • No surveillance. No face scans. No ID uploads.

  • Parents control everything. SafeGen requires a parent to verify their own phone and physically complete the PIN handshake on the child’s phone.

  • Kids can’t bypass. Every SIM in Australia already requires adult KYC.

  • Platforms only see one thing: “minor” or “not.” Nothing else.

  • Auto-delisting: SafeGen automatically removes minors at 16 (social media) and 18 (adult content).

  • Zero reverse-risk: Hashes can’t be de-scrambled — even by SafeGen.

  • Hard compliance rails: SafeGen provides the “knowledge event” regulators need so platforms can no longer claim ambiguity.

Why It Matters

  • Australia is implementing the strictest under-16 rules globally.

  • Platforms can’t enforce compliance without a non-ID, no-surveillance solution.

  • SafeGen fills the missing link: telco-validated minors → parental consent → enforceable law.

  • Prevents kids from being targeted, groomed, or pushed adult content.

  • No data honeypots. No tracking. No profiling.

Five-Line Explainer (for media)

SafeGen lets parents anonymously mark their child’s mobile number as belonging to a minor. Platforms then check the scrambled number — not the kid. If it’s flagged, the platform must block access. No IDs. No biometrics. It’s the first enforceable, privacy-respecting age gate built for national scale.

Founder & Background

SafeGen was created by Australian inventor Ric Richardson — known for pioneering software activation used by Microsoft and most of the worklds software companies on 2 billion computers and for projects in cybersecurity, digital identity, and online safety. SafeGen was born from the challenge issued by a mutual friend of the eSafety Commissioner:

"I know an inventor that should be able to solve this problem. I replied How hard can it be?”

And here we are.

Approved Quotes

Ric Richardson, Founder: “The whole of Australia shouldnt be challenged or surveilled to protect 2 million kids. There has got to be a better way.”

On parents being involved: “Why do all this high tech work and expense when there is a gauranteed source of truth on kids ages. The parents.”

On compliance: “Once a platform is notified a number belongs to a minor, continued access is a clear breach. SafeGen enables that notification layer.”

Media Contact

Chris Bird — Media & Partnerships chris@ricricho.com +61 411 223 730

Assets

Logos, architecture diagrams, bios, and integration notes available on request.

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