Bud.tv and Aristotle’s Integrity

I got into Bud.tv and given the long NYT article, yes they really are hitting the DMV database.

From the NYT:

"Anheuser-Busch, to its credit, will have one of the smarter gatekeepers keeping watch over Bud.TV. It has bought an identity-verification system used by casinos and banks, Aristotle’s Integrity, which checks the names and Zip codes against driver’s licenses and other public records."

Bud press release:

"ST. LOUIS (Jan. 22, 2007) - Anheuser-Busch Inc. today announced it has selected Aristotle Inc., based in Washington, D.C., as the vendor to implement an independent age-verification system for its new online entertainment network, Bud.TV, which will launch on Feb. 4 following the Super Bowl broadcast. Bud.TV will feature programming similar to late-night network and cable television. By April, the age-verification technology also will be implemented on all of the company’s beer-branded Web sites, such as www.beeresponsible.com. This initiative makes Anheuser-Busch the first alcohol beverage company to use an independent age-verification system for its Internet sites.

“We chose Aristotle because of its experience in implementing cutting-edge identity verification systems that work quickly,” said Tony Ponturo, vice president of Global Media and Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch Inc. “Aristotle’s Integrity system will enhance our ability to admit only those adults of legal drinking age to our beer-branded Web sites.”

Web site visitors will be asked to provide their first and last name, date of birth and zip code, which Aristotle will then attempt to verify against its database of public records in real
time. Users who are verified may then create a password that will give them on-the-spot and future access to Bud.TV, as well as to Anheuser-Busch’s other beer-branded Web sites."

From Aristotle:

"Integrity is an international fraud prevention, age and identity verification service that integrates a government-issued ID database check, algorithms and web-based signature capture. The service provides merchants and government agencies with Patriot Act compliance and compliance with age verification laws and guidelines."