Overview
- Over the past several days, users have reported a Play Store pop-up requiring proof of being 18 before downloading many titles.
- Verification options include a government ID upload, a selfie for partner-run age estimation, a credit card, an email-based check, or the third-party service VerifyMy.
- Google says the process takes only minutes, payment cards will not be charged, and new APIs and tools are being built to implement age checks safely.
- AI-based estimates can misclassify adults, and users may be asked for additional documentation if an automated guess is incorrect.
- The rollout is expanding, regional availability varies, and users are raising privacy concerns about data handling and partner involvement, with separate reports of lockouts after failed checks on other Google services.