Overview
- Users in parts of the United States report prompts to prove they are 18 or older before downloading certain apps, with downloads blocked if verification is declined.
- Google offers several verification options that include uploading an ID, submitting a selfie for age estimation, using a credit card, or relying on third-party services such as Verifymy.io that infer age from email activity.
- Availability of specific verification methods differs by region, and early reports note that access to Google Search has been blocked for some users who skip verification.
- Google cites compliance with laws in states like Texas, Utah, and Louisiana and signals a broader effort to align age-gating across services, noting YouTube already applies similar checks.
- Privacy and fairness concerns center on sensitive data handling, the reliability of age inference, and the exclusion of users without credit cards, with no confirmed rollout timeline for countries like Germany.