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Persona and ConnectID Deliver Privacy-First Age Verification for the Australian Market

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Persona, a leading global infrastructure provider, today announced its integration with ConnectID®, an Australian digital identity network, to help businesses navigate age-compliance regulations. This integration enables organizations to verify the age of Australian users while ensuring personal data remains protected.

Australia’s under-16 social media legislation requires adherence to strict regulatory guidelines, reinforcing the importance of digital safety and making privacy-by-design a key element of age assurance. Persona’s ConnectID integration allows users to verify their age through existing enrollment information from trusted financial institutions with the need to share sensitive identification documents like passports or driver’s licenses with the requesting social media platform.

Key features of this integration include:

No Sensitive Data Visibility: Persona nor ConnectID ever sees or stores any sensitive personal information.Data Minimization: Only specific, necessary age claims, such as “Over 16” or “Over 18” confirmation, are shared with the business to finalize a transaction. Identity documents are not uploaded or shared with the business, and personal data – not even a name or date of birth – does not leave the bank, ensuring privacy and anonymity for all age assurance transactions.

“We are incredibly excited to continue supporting industry leaders in the navigation of complex age assurance rollouts globally,” said Daniel Lee, Product Manager at Persona. “By integrating ConnectID into the Persona platform, we are empowering our partners to meet rigorous local standards with privacy-first methods.”

For end users, the process is designed using familiar interfaces to allow for minimal friction. During a transaction requiring age assurance, users can select their preferred bank from a list of participating providers, including CommBank, NAB, ANZ Plus, and Westpac. Authentication then occurs securely using a recognizable interface from their trusted banking app following permission to share confirmation that they meet the age requirement (e.g., “16+”).

“Our priority is to protect young people online without creating new privacy risks,” said Rick Iversen, Head of ConnectID. “By acting as a secure bridge between banks and online platforms, we’re enabling organizations to responsibly meet new obligations under the social media legislation, while keeping sensitive personal data entirely out of the process.”

Age verification using ConnectID provides an alternative method to traditional ID-based solutions, allowing users to verify their age without the need to hand over copies of personal identification such as driver’s licenses and passports. This method is twofold, reducing the risk of oversharing sensitive user personal data while removing the risk and cost for businesses associated with storing such data.

Persona’s age assurance solution ensures businesses can maintain high assurance and compliance while protecting end users. By adding ConnectID to its industry-leading suite of age assurance methods, Persona continues to empower customers to create a flexible, privacy-first user experience for age assurance.

Both Persona and ConnectID participated in the 2025 Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial that examined options to protect children from harmful content. The two providers were assessed at some of the highest technology readiness levels, demonstrating deployment readiness in Australia.

About Persona
Founded in 2018, Persona is headquartered in San Francisco and is available in 200+ countries and territories. Persona helps leading organizations like Substack implement privacy-centric age assurance that meets compliance requirements in Australia and globally. Companies are able to meet compliance with multiple methods to estimate, infer, and verify age, without adding friction to the user life cycle.

Persona’s age assurance technology has undergone multiple third-party audits and certifications, including the Australian Age Assurance Technology Trial. The security- and privacy-first approach to design also aligns with the core principles of the ISO/IEC 27566 framework.

About ConnectID
ConnectID is an Australian-owned digital identity solution which makes it easier for customers to verify who they are, using organisations they already trust. ConnectID does not see or store any data, it simply acts as the bridge that connects businesses to trusted and reliable identity data with customer consent, giving individuals more control over how their information is used and shared. 

ConnectID was the first non-government identity exchange accredited by the Australian Government and is supported by major Australian banks. ConnectID is part of Australian Payments Plus (AP+), which also operates Australia’s domestic payments infrastructure – including the eftpos debit network, BPAY bill payments, and the NPP (the country’s real-time payments system).

For more information, visit connectid.com.au

ConnectID is a registered trademark of ConnectID Pty Ltd ABN 80 648 970 101.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/persona-and-connectid-deliver-privacy-first-age-verification-for-the-australian-market-302747476.html

SOURCE Persona

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QFocus Technologies Scales Global Engineering Business, Plans to Triple Workforce in 2027 to Support Growing Customer Demand

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October 23, 2026

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BENGALURU, India and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QFocus Technologies LLC (QFocus), headquartered in the USA, is strengthening its global engineering operations following continued business growth across its key markets. The company has doubled its customer base to include top OEMs and CMs across AI infrastructure, medical devices and industrial products, adding multiple new customer engagements over the past 12 months.

Since its inception, QFocus has built relationships with leading global organizations across the technology and manufacturing ecosystem, supporting engineering programs for a global electronics manufacturing and supply chain solutions provider, a leading computational software company serving the semiconductor design industry, a frontier AI company advancing AI infrastructure and computing, and a global medical technology company, amongst others.

These customer programs also offer QFocus engineers opportunities to work on real-world engineering challenges for global organizations, gain exposure to international engineering practices and contribute to technologies and products with applications across industries. By working alongside experienced Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and supporting demanding customer requirements, engineers can deepen their technical capabilities while gaining experience across the product development and manufacturing lifecycle.

The company plans to triple the number of its engineers globally over the next 12 months, strengthening its capabilities across AI/ML & software engineering, data science & engineering, ASIC hardware & embedded software design, validation & verification, and manufacturing & quality engineering. The expansion will support QFocus’ growing portfolio of global customer programs while further positioning it as a premier SME-led engineering services provider globally.

Founder & CEO Ajit Chandorkar said, “We see tremendous opportunities to support customers navigating complex development and manufacturing environments. Our delivery model pairs industry-recognized SMEs directly with agile engineering teams, combining strategic foresight with technical execution to address our customers’ most intricate challenges. Expanding our product engineering team alongside our AI capabilities will further strengthen this approach, enabling our customers to accelerate time-to-market, elevate product quality and improve operational efficiency. As we continue to build our engineering capabilities, we remain focused on fostering a high-caliber team that delivers world-class solutions and creates lasting value for our customers.”

QFocus is also continuing to build relationships with academic institutions and engineering partners globally to strengthen its talent pipeline and create opportunities for engineering professionals to work on emerging technology areas.

About QFocus Technologies

QFocus is a US-based design and manufacturing engineering service provider, delivering consulting-led services that help clients achieve faster time-to-market and improved process and product quality. QFocus’ comprehensive service portfolio spans embedded systems & AI, manufacturing/quality engineering, factory data analytics, and operational excellence. QFocus serves clients across Medical & Life Sciences, AI Infrastructure and CE, and Industrial & Transport sectors.

QFocus fosters a vibrant environment of joy, excitement, creativity, and innovation, placing inclusion, empathy, and empowerment for every employee and partner at the heart of its growing culture. We are a team of Go-Getters in the making!

For more information about QFocus and its services, visit www.qfocustech.com or contact ops@qfocustech.com. 

 

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/qfocus-technologies-scales-global-engineering-business-plans-to-triple-workforce-in-2027-to-support-growing-customer-demand-302917772.html

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AULUMU Introduces the ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case for iPhone Duo

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1 hour ago

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October 23, 2026

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1500D aramid fiber meets a universe-inspired particle array, combining technical aesthetics with everyday protection

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AULUMU, the design-driven accessories brand known for blending futuristic aesthetics with functional engineering, introduces the ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case for iPhone Duo. Part of the brand’s Particle Series, the new case combines a lightweight 1500D aramid-fiber construction with a distinctive particle-array design, dual-screen protection, and MagSafe compatibility in a slim, technical form.

Inspired by the primordial order of the universe and tactical aesthetics, the ADuo Particle transforms a finely woven surface into a dynamic visual composition. Its precisely arranged particles create a sense of depth and structure, evoking the ubiquitous particles found throughout the universe. The result is a design that balances visual complexity with a restrained, functional aesthetic.

At the core of the ADuo Particle is 1500D aramid fiber, selected for its refined woven texture and lightweight strength. The finely woven material creates a distinctive tactile surface while maintaining a slim profile for everyday carrying. A skin-friendly coating further enhances grip and makes routine cleaning easier, bringing material refinement and practical usability together.

The ADuo Particle is available in two finishes, each interpreting the particle-array concept through a different visual language. Abyss Blue features a UV-processed gradient particle array, creating a sense of depth through a gradual shift in color. Polar Black combines glossy particles with black aramid fabric, producing a subtle interplay of light and shadow that changes with the viewing angle. Together, the two colorways offer distinct expressions of the same technical design language.

Beyond its visual identity, the ADuo Particle integrates a series of protective details designed for everyday use. A full-coverage PC protective frame surrounds the front screen, helping protect its edges and corners. An aluminum-alloy camera guard adds protection around the camera area, while raised edges around the screen and camera help reduce direct contact with surrounding surfaces. These elements complement the slim construction without adding unnecessary visual bulk.

The case also supports compatible MagSafe accessories, extending its functionality beyond basic device protection. Users can pair it with magnetic accessories, including the AULUMU G09 Mag Stand, to create a more flexible setup for everyday work, viewing, and mobile use. By combining magnetic compatibility with a refined aramid-fiber exterior, the ADuo Particle fits naturally into a technical, minimalist everyday carry setup.

The ADuo Particle reflects AULUMU’s ongoing approach to product design: bringing material innovation, functional details, and a distinctive industrial aesthetic into everyday technology accessories. Rather than treating protection and appearance as separate priorities, the case integrates both into a cohesive design built around the character of the device and the needs of daily use.

AULUMU is also developing two additional ADuo Aramid Fiber Case variations: a distinctive all-white edition and a gradient edition inspired by the visual direction of the A18 Ultra Slim Gradient Aramid Fiber Case. Release dates for both versions have yet to be determined.

Available on the AULUMU website for $89.98

What is More

AULUMU is also preparing a special limited version of ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case which is the world first All-White Aramid Fiber case. The release date for this case has not yet been determined.

About AULUMU

Founded in 2022, AULUMU is a design brand focused on high-performance gear, drawing inspiration from the functional aesthetics of cyberpunk and the philosophical roots of ancient Greek thought. Since its inception, the brand has launched dozens of digital accessory products, secured multiple utility and invention patents, and received the 2025 Red Dot Design Award. Today, AULUMU products serve hundreds of thousands of users across more than 20 countries and regions, positioning the brand as a growing presence in the global high-performance accessories market.

For more information, visit: https://aulumu.com/, or follow AULUMU on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aulumu_official/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aulumu-introduces-the-aduo-particle-aramid-fiber-case-for-iphone-duo-302917688.html

SOURCE AULUMU

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LianLian Global and PayPal Power Cross-Border Payouts for Social Commerce, Marketplace, and eCommerce Customers

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2 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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Social commerce, marketplaces and eCommerce players served by LianLian Global can now pay creators, influencers, developers, and independent contractors directly to their PayPal and Venmo wallets.

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LianLian Global  today announced it has partnered with PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) to enable its social commerce, marketplace and e-commerce clients to send payouts directly to PayPal accounts globally and to Venmo accounts in the U.S.

The creator and gig economy runs on fast, low-friction payouts. Brands are expected to spend $32.6 billion on creators in 2026 and roughly 50 million people worldwide create content professionally or semi-professionally (Gigapay Global Creator Economy Report 2026). Many of these recipients already hold a PayPal or Venmo account: PayPal had over 400 million active accounts across approximately 200 markets at the end of Q2 2026, and Venmo reached 67 million monthly active accounts in Q4 2025.

Paypal Payouts is live in 96 global markets and 24 currencies. It allows merchants to send to any email address, mobile number, or Venmo user handle, with or without an existing PayPal or Venmo account.

To support enterprises expanding globally, LianLian Global provides digital payment services including pay-in, pay-out, acquiring, foreign exchange, virtual cards and payment aggregation. To date, its parent company Lianlian DigiTech has served more than 13.3 million clients. Its services reach more than 200 countries and regions, support transactions and settlement in more than 140 currencies, and connect with more than 180 global e-commerce platforms.

The partnership combines LianLian Global’s cross-border collection, FX and compliance infrastructure with PayPal’s global wallet network. Key offerings include:

Pay to PayPal: Payouts from LianLian Global clients to PayPal account holders in 96 markets, using only the recipient’s email or phone numberPay to Venmo: Domestic U.S. payouts to Venmo users, including creators, influencers and independent contractorsPayPal Payouts for Platforms: Mass disbursements for social commerce, marketplaces and affiliate platforms paying large numbers of sellers, creators and contractorsSpeed to settle: Save time and money by eliminating check runs and postage; no need for routing numbers and bank accounts.

Sandra Lam, Deputy CEO of US at LianLian Global: “Social commerce is creating a new economy, where creators, influencers and independent sellers drive discovery and sales alongside the platforms they sell on. Paying these participants fast, across borders and in small amount is what powers the network effect of social commerce. We see our work with Paypal as a key step in building the payout rails for the global gig economy.”

The collaboration expands LianLian Global’s payout coverage and supports its growth in the U.S. and global markets as cross-border platforms scale their creator and contractor programs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lianlian-global-and-paypal-power-cross-border-payouts-for-social-commerce-marketplace-and-ecommerce-customers-302917635.html

SOURCE LianLian Global

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