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L8P8, Inc. Introduces Loop8ID Age Shield, a Frictionless Age Verification Solution, Helping Support the UK’s Online Safety Act Without Storing Personal Data

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Loop8ID Age Shield confirms that the person requesting access to an age-restricted app or website is who they claim to be, using the biometric authentication already built into Apple or Android phones. Loop8ID then connects to the age signal already established on a user’s device to return an instant pass/fail result, with no personal data collected or shared. Businesses can add Loop8ID to both mobile apps and websites through a simple OAuth 2.0 API to help meet the requirements of the UK’s Online Safety Act.

GLENDALE, Calif., Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — L8P8, Inc. today announced Loop8ID Age Shield, a privacy-first middleware platform built on Loop8, the company’s biometric identity app that replaces passwords with Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint authentication already on a user’s phone. Loop8ID Age Shield confirms that the person requesting an age check is the genuine account holder, not someone using a shared device, a borrowed login, or a stolen password.

Once identity is confirmed, Loop8ID requests a simple age-eligibility pass/fail flag from the age signal already established on the user’s device via OAuth 2.0, with no identity documents or other personally identifiable information ever collected or stored. Its flexible architecture also enables integration with other third-party age-verification solutions as regulatory requirements continue to evolve.

Contact Loop8ID today to request a demo.

The announcement comes as Ofcom actively enforces the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms hosting age-restricted content to implement highly effective age assurance. Non-compliant organisations can face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue. Loop8ID Age Shield is designed to help online businesses adhere to the UK’s Online Safety Act age assurance requirements without creating additional repositories of sensitive user information.

“The challenge for many organisations isn’t understanding the regulations. It’s implementing age assurance in a way that also protects user privacy while still being able to operate their business successfully,” said Zarik Megerdichian, Founder and CEO of L8P8 Inc. “Loop8ID was designed to close that gap. It keeps children out and lets verified adults through in seconds, with no documents, no accounts, and no friction.”

Many age assurance methods, including digital identity verification, facial age estimation, and payment-based verification, rely on collecting and processing sensitive personal information. These approaches can support Ofcom compliance, but they may increase an organisation’s obligations under UK GDPR.

How Loop8ID Age Shield Works

At the centre of Loop8ID Age Shield is Loop8, an app purposefully built to authenticate a user without a master password, using the Face ID or fingerprint check already built into their phone.

Once Loop8 confirms that the request is coming from a genuine account holder, not a sibling on a shared device, a borrowed login, or a stolen password, Loop8ID routes a request to the age signal already established on that person’s device, using Apple’s Declared Age Range API or Google’s Play Age Signals API, where regionally available, which returns a simple pass or fail.

Because Ofcom’s standard for “highly effective” age assurance looks at the strength of the underlying proof, not just the speed of the check, Loop8ID Age Shield is built to work with device signals that already meet that bar. Where the device already provides a strong enough age signal, verification is instant and frictionless.

Loop8ID never touches a birthdate, a document, or an identity record. It confirms the person, then asks the platform that already knows their age to answer a yes/no question. It’s the privacy layer that lets businesses verify age without becoming custodians of sensitive identity data, because no personal data crosses the wire.

Key capabilities:

Biometric identity confirmation: Face ID, Touch ID, and Android biometrics confirm the person requesting verification is an actual Loop8 account holder before any age signal is ever requested.Middleware architecture: Live today on Apple iOS in the UK; already integrated with Google’s Android age-signal API and positioned to extend automatically as Google completes its UK rollout in the coming months, with no additional integration work required from businesses already using Loop8ID. Built to also integrate with any Ofcom-recognised age verification method.Zero data storage: No Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or documents stored.On-device processing: Biometric matching happens locally on the user’s phone. No fingerprint, face scan, or biometric data is ever transmitted to or stored by Loop8ID.Sub-second, passwordless verification: Verification completes in under a second, with no password prompts or redirects to disrupt the customer journey.OAuth 2.0 integration: Scalable and deployable within days.

Loop8ID is available and can integrate into any existing system, pilot programmes, and proof-of-concept deployments.

To learn more and schedule a demonstration, visit https://loop8id.com/.

Notes to Editors

The Online Safety Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, is responsible for enforcing the Act; its codes of practice for user-to-user and search services came into effect in July 2025, establishing legal duties requiring highly effective age assurance for age-restricted content. Under the Act, Ofcom may impose financial penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater, and may seek court orders requiring internet service providers, payment providers, and advertising networks to restrict services to non-compliant platforms. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) independently enforces the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Loop8 is L8P8’s biometric identity app, authenticating users through Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint sensor already on their phone rather than a password. Loop8ID Age Shield is one of the first services built on top of that identity layer.

About L8P8, Inc.

L8P8 Inc. is a biometric-based privacy technology company focused on eliminating password dependency and reducing unnecessary exposure of personal information. The company is the creator of Loop8, a personal privacy controller that replaces traditional password-based security with biometric authentication already built into a user’s phone, and Loop8ID, a privacy-first identity middleware platform designed to enable age verification and trusted user authentication without requiring businesses to collect or store sensitive personal information, minimising the credential theft and password sharing that can lead to impersonation.

L8P8 Inc. is headquartered in Glendale, California, USA.

Media Relations

Jennifer Sistilli

Loop8ID

pr@l8p8.com

https://loop8id.com/

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Visa, MOONTON Games extend collaboration with new three-year partnership for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s M Series-the world’s most watched mobile esports tournament

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As the Global Payment Partner, Visa will elevate how millions enjoy the M8 to M10 World Championships

SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a global leader in digital payments, and MOONTON Games, the international video game developer behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), today announced a three-year partnership to elevate the M Series experience for fans worldwide. The partnership sees Visa named the Global Payment Partner for the next three editions of the M Series—the M8 World Championship (M8) in 2027 through the M10 World Championship (M10) in 2029. The M Series is MLBB’s flagship international competition and is the most-watched mobile esports tournament in history with 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts.

From the M8 through the M10, Visa cardholders will receive preferential access to M Series tickets, as well as opportunities to win VIP Zone access, meet-and-greets, and behind-the-scenes tours–bringing fans closer to their favourite players and teams.

The partnership comes as the M Series expands its international footprint. The M8 will mark the tournament’s European debut, building on MLBB Esports’ global expansion strategy unveiled earlier this year. With Visa facilitating payments across more than 200 countries and territories, its reach and payment capabilities will support MLBB’s continued international growth while creating more seamless and rewarding fan experiences.

Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer at Visa Asia Pacific, said: “We’re proud to deepen our partnership with MOONTON Games and MLBB, one of the most remarkable gaming franchises in the world. MLBB is a powerful example of how mobile gaming is changing the way people play, connect with each other, and spend. Every year, millions of fans and gamers engage with the M Series. Together with MOONTON Games, we look forward to creating more iconic moments that fans and gamers will remember in the years to come.”

The multi-year agreement builds on Visa’s first entry into MLBB Esports at the M7 World Championship (M7) in Jakarta, Indonesia, anchored in a shared vision of empowering youth through digital innovation. Visa has also expanded its presence within the wider MLBB Esports ecosystem, joining MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines as an Official Sponsor for Season 18.

Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: “Our partnership with Visa at the M7 demonstrated how we can create greater value together across the fan journey. This multi-year agreement is a natural next step as MLBB Esports enters its next phase of globalisation. It also reflects the growing international scale and relevance of the M Series. Together, we are excited to deliver a more seamless, rewarding, and connected experience for fans around the world.”

Visa champions the moments that bring fans closer to the passions they love, from sports and music to gaming, fashion, and entertainment. Guided by a fan-first approach to partnerships, Visa designs experiences that deepen connection and make participation seamless, secure and accessible for audiences around the world. Through high-impact partnerships, Visa helps shape cultural moments while enabling effortless cross-border commerce. Visa’s partnership with MOONTON Games strengthens its growing range of gaming partnerships and its commitment to helping people connect with the communities and experiences they care about most.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About MOONTON Games

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit https://en.moonton.com.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports

Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Latin America; MPL is the first esports event series to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time globally.

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd

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CCTV4: CMG Mid-Autumn Gala Celebrates a Global Reunion at the Home of Chang’e

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BEIJING, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — One of the most popular traditions associated with Mid-Autumn Festival is the legend of Chang’e who, to prevent her husband’s apprentice Peng Meng from stealing an elixir of immortality, consumes it herself and flies to the moon. The earliest complete account of this legend is contained in the 2nd century BC philosophical text, Huainanzi. The work, a collection of essays based on scholarly debates held at the court of Liu An, Prince of Huainan, also contains the first systematic record of the jieqi – the 24 Solar Terms observed in China since ancient times to predict changes in the weather and guide farming. 

As the host city of this year’s CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, Huainan is drawing on its rich heritage to create a memorable evening of celebration and family reunion. Lying on the banks of the Huaihe River in Anhui Province, the city offers a delightful and romantic setting for an evening of music and entertainment beneath a full moon. Performances will also use cutting-edge technology in the form of AI, robotics and drones to reimagine Mid-Autumn traditions for a worldwide audience. 

Among the evening’s highlights will be British singer Sarah Brightman duetting with China’s own Zhou Shen on The Music of the Night; and a performance of Clair De Lune and May We All Be Blessed with Longevity by pipa virtuoso Fang Jinlong, Croatian cellist Ana Rucner and German pianist Oskar Roman Jezior. Also making an appearance will be two of the stars of China’s latest box-office hit Dear You – Li Sitong and Wu Shaoqing.

Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Mid-Autumn Festival has for centuries brought families and loved ones together. In Chinese culture, the full moon is a symbol of reunion and shared longing – an image that also speaks to a universal sense of romance and connection.

The 2026 CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala will be broadcast worldwide from Huainan at 8 p.m. Beijing time on September 25.

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SOURCE CCTV4

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Spiritual Journeys and Southeast Asian Escapes Mark Indian Travel Interest in September: Agoda

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda’s latest accommodation search data reveals growing interest in India’s spiritual destinations ahead of September, with several temple towns noting an increase in searches, alongside continued popularity of Southeast Asian cities.

Interest in India’s Temple Towns Climbs 

Among domestic destinations, Pachmarhi, known as the “Queen of Satpura”, recorded an almost 7x increase in accommodation searches for September compared with the same period last year. Set in the Satpura ranges of Madhya Pradesh, the hill destination is home to the Jatashankar Temple, a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is also known for its forests, waterfalls and scenic views. Ujjain, another city in the state, recorded an almost 3x increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the city offers travelers a mix of pilgrimage, historic ghats, and cultural experiences.

In Puri, accommodation searches increased by 2x, with the Jagannath Temple being a key part of the city’s identity, while its coastline and beaches offer travelers another experience during their stay. Varanasi recorded a 44% increase in searches, with its temples, ghats and cultural heritage offering another way to experience India’s spiritual traditions. Further down south, Tirupati recorded a 29% increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Sri Venkateswara Temple, the destination remains an important pilgrimage centre and spiritual travel destination of interest.

Southeast Asia Brings Spiritual and Cultural Experiences into September Travel

Beyond India, September travel searches also point to Southeast Asia, where travelers can find spiritual and cultural experiences alongside beaches, food and city breaks. Hanoi recorded a 58% increase in accommodation searches, with its historic streets, cultural heritage and local food offering travelers a city experience shaped by Vietnam’s traditions.

Da Nang saw a 50% increase in search interest, combining its beaches and proximity to Hoi An with cultural attractions such as Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, a Buddhist site known for its 67-metre statue of Guanyin. Kuala Lumpur recorded a 35% increase, offering multicultural heritage, food and landmarks including Batu Caves, Thean Hou Temple and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

In Indonesia, Bali recorded a 24% increase in accommodation searches, offering a mix of beaches, natural landscapes and spiritual experiences, with renowned temples such as Tanah Lot, Besakih Temple and Lempuyang Temple adding to its cultural appeal.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands, Agoda said “Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report found that 19% of Indian respondents consider spiritual or religious experiences when planning a trip this year, pointing to the diverse motivations shaping travel decisions. Our latest accommodation search data reflects this shift, with destinations being explored for pilgrimages, cultural experiences, nature getaways, and overseas holidays. At Agoda, we make it easier for travelers to find stays that best fit the diverse experiences they desire.”

With a global network of over 6 million hotels and holiday properties, along with flights, activities, and more, Agoda offers travelers a wide range of options to explore destinations across India and around the world. Whether discovering domestic hill escapes or international cities and island destinations, Agoda’s broad selection makes it easier to plan any trip.

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SOURCE Agoda

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