Yandex to Test Photo Checks to Keep Minors Off Rental Scooters
The company plans to use image verification to prevent underage users from accessing its e-scooter service.
Yandex Go, a Russian electric scooter rental service, is set to begin testing photo-based verification to stop minors from renting devices, the company’s press office said. The system will prompt users flagged by its technology as behaving like minors to take a photo. In some cases, access to scooter rentals may be restricted. To restore access, users can submit a photo of a personal identity document.
Dual Verification
The company says authorization through Gosuslugi (state services portal) already helps limit underage use. Such rental requirements were introduced in Moscow last year, preventing 23,000 users from accessing scooters during the season.
According to kicksharing services, more than 25 million people in Russia actively use personal mobility devices. Rental services operate in 245 cities, making urban travel faster and more convenient. However, underage riders often contribute to unsafe situations on the roads. Modern smart city systems also track traffic violations committed by e-scooter users.
