An Honest Take

Two things. First, it reads an ID and does the age math — is this person 21 or not? Simple, fast, no mistakes. Second, it runs a Deep Scan that searches public criminal records, sex offender registries, and court databases using AI with live web search. It reads the name, DOB, and state from the ID, then searches the web in real time for matching records.

It's AI searching the public web — not a law enforcement database. It can find publicly available arrest records, sex offender registry entries, and court filings. But it can miss things that aren't indexed online, and it can occasionally surface records for the wrong person with the same name. We built strict identity verification into the prompts — it requires DOB matches, not just name matches — but no AI system is perfect. Treat results as a starting point, not a verdict.

No. 21orNot reads the information on the ID — date of birth, expiration, name, address. It cannot verify if the ID itself is authentic. Detecting fakes requires checking holograms, UV printing, and microprinting that a phone camera cannot see. This is a reading tool and a search tool, not a fraud detection tool.

As a tool, not a replacement for judgment. The age check eliminates the most common mistake: bad math at 1am under pressure. The Deep Scan gives you context you wouldn't otherwise have. But nothing replaces looking at the physical ID, comparing the photo, and trusting your gut. Use it alongside your judgment, not instead of it.

21orNot has zero servers. The ID photo goes from your phone directly to Groq's AI — we never see it, store it, or log it. Deep Scan queries go from your phone directly to Groq's compound model, which searches the public web. We have no database of scans, no user accounts, and no way to see what you search. Your Groq API key stays in your browser's local storage and never touches our servers — because we don't have servers.

This is the question we thought hardest about. Deep Scan only searches public records — information already available to anyone who Googles a name. It doesn't access private databases, credit reports, or sealed records. A bartender, bouncer, or business owner has always been able to look up a name. This tool just makes it faster. That said, with speed comes responsibility. Don't use it to discriminate. Don't treat a result as proof of anything. And remember that people are more than their worst public moment.

21orNot is a tool, not legal advice. If you serve a minor, the responsibility is yours. If you deny someone entry based on a background check, that's your decision and your liability. We provide information. You make the call. Always use your own judgment.