Overview

• YouTube has started a limited U.S. pilot of an AI age-estimation system that analyzes viewing behavior to flag users as underage and apply existing restrictions.
• Users flagged as minors must verify with a government ID, credit card or selfie to restore full access, and YouTube says appeal data will not be used for advertising.
• A Change.org petition initiated by creators has gathered nearly 50,000 signatures protesting potential misclassifications and the erosion of online anonymity.
• Digital-rights groups including the EFF and EPIC criticize the lack of transparency on how long appeal data is stored or who can access it, warning of irreversible biometric risks.
• Reports of TikTok users facing similar age-based lockouts have emerged, but TikTok sources told Dexerto the flags result from mixed moderation tools rather than an AI system.