In a press release published on July 30, Google announces extending its age identification device. As the edge pointed out, the company will automatically analyze the content consumed by each user to estimate their age. This includes internet research and videos seen on YouTube.
The measure will be gradually implemented in the United States “in the following weeks.” There has been no date for the European system implementation, Google first wants to monitor its implementation in the United States “before implementing it on a larger scale.”
Restricted characteristics
Users identified as potentially lower by Google’s algorithm will receive an email from the company. The new restrictions on them will now be explained to those that are now forced.
Because the algorithm can be incorrect, it can happen that a user is involuntarily identified as under 18 years. Then it will be necessary to justify Google, through an identity card or a selfie, which is very important.
What will be these restrictions applied to minors? As for the United States, Google plans to limit access to some of its services, such as YouTube Kids. The first measures announced are as follows:
- YouTube will frequently remove the breaks and lay during the defined times, the platform will also adjust its recommendation algorithm so that it is less addictive
- The “your trips” of the maps (which correspond to the history) will be blocked
- Personalized ads will disable
Finally, Google will block access to its adult applications in its Google Play store. A complete change, since not later in June 2025, the company firmly opposed the age verification in its application store.
A first victory for the Group goal (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), as well as Snapchat, which they pressed for the implementation of said device. Militaron for age verification to become responsibility for application stores (such as Google Store or App Store), and is no longer that of applications.
Age verification is democratized
Like Google, several technological companies have been forced to configure an authentication system to confirm whether their users are adults or not. A process that responds to the will of certain governments to limit the exposure of minors to adult content.
On this issue, the United Kingdom grants the LA, with the implementation of the online Security Law, on July 25. According to The Guardian, all adult sites record almost 5 million age controls daily from the application of the text. At the same time, VPN and Proton saw their number of downloads multiplied by 19.
Always under the taking of the online security law, the musical transmission platforms such as Spotify had to establish a facial biometric analysis system to determine the age of their British clients, as explained by means 404. The company takes the British law seriously, reaching the accounts that consume prohibited content to those over 18, but that will refuse to send to this age verification.
Other platforms such as Discord or Reddit also had to force these new authentication rules. But some users have cheated the AI and approve the biometric analysis by providing images of the protagonist of the Stranding Stranding game.
Source: BFM TV
