Tag

Age Verification

All articles tagged with #age verification

technology1 day ago•2 min saved

AB-1856 Could Shield Most Linux Distros From California's Age-Verification Law

AB-1856 would adjust California's age-verification law to exempt most open-source Linux distributions by redefining 'operating system provider' and 'application' to exclude copiable/redistributable software and non-standalone app-store components; if enacted, the vast majority of Linux distros would be spared when the law takes effect in 2027, though SteamOS and other proprietary-app platforms could remain affected; committee reviews were underway with a potential June vote.

via Phoronix|

#ab-1856 #age-verification #california

policy16 days ago•2 min saved

EU eyes VPN loophole as age checks tighten online safety

The European Parliamentary Research Service warns that VPNs are increasingly used to bypass online age-verification rules, calling it a regulatory gap as Europe tightens child-safety measures. Proposals range from requiring VPNs to verify age to privacy-preserving methods like double-blind verification, but experts caution that identity checks could weaken anonymity. The EU is considering updates to cybersecurity/online-safety laws, with parallels in the UK and Utah’s age-verification efforts and prior security flaws found in an EU verification app.

via CyberInsider|

#age-verification #eu-policy #online-safety

technology19 days ago•6 min saved

Meta Deploys AI Visual Cues to Target Under-13 Accounts on Instagram and Facebook

Meta is expanding its AI-driven age verification on Instagram and Facebook, analyzing posts, bios, and visual cues like height and bone structure (not face recognition) to identify and suspend accounts likely run by children under 13, with teen accounts auto-created for ages 13–15 and rollout extending to Brazil and 27 EU countries as part of a broader response to EU Digital Services Act concerns and ongoing child-safety efforts.

via WIRED|

#age-verification #ai #eu-dsa

tech20 days ago•41 min saved

Meta’s AI bone-structure scan flags under-13s on Facebook and Instagram

Meta says Facebook and Instagram will use an AI system to scan photos and videos for general cues like height and bone structure to identify users under 13 (not facial recognition), deactivate those accounts, and require age verification to prevent deletion. The rollout begins in select countries including the US, with wider UK/EU rollout planned, and Instagram will automatically place 13–17-year-olds into stricter Teen Accounts. The move comes amid ongoing age-verification policy debates and follows a New Mexico court verdict against Meta.

via The Verge|

#age-verification #facebook #instagram

policy25 days ago•53 min saved

Meta warns it may pull its apps from New Mexico over impractical safety demands

Meta says it could withdraw Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp from New Mexico if a court enforces the attorney general’s sweeping safety changes, arguing the requests are vague and technologically infeasible—such as banning end-to-end encryption for minors, implementing age verification, and achieving 99% CSAM detection—and would require Meta to build New Mexico–specific apps; the AG’s push follows Meta’s $375 million verdict in the state and centers on child safety, while Meta contends the demands could cut residents off from the platforms.

via The Verge|

#age-verification #csam-detection #end-to-end-encryption

technology26 days ago•3 min saved

EU urges Meta to tighten age checks on Instagram and Facebook

Brussels says Meta isn’t doing enough to block under-13s on Instagram and Facebook and is pushing for stronger design changes and a new EU-wide age-verification app; under the Digital Services Act, Meta could face fines up to 6% of global revenue if found in breach, and the Commission is seeking remedies alongside ongoing reviews of Meta’s design and risk assessments.

via politico.eu|

#age-verification #digital-services-act #eu-regulation

gaming1 month ago•17 min saved

Sony to gate PSN communication behind age checks in UK and Ireland from June 2026

Sony will require age verification to access PlayStation communication features in the UK and Ireland beginning June 2026, applying to party chats, voice and text messaging, and certain in-game tools (including third-party chat apps). The move is part of a broader trend toward age checks for online services, though privacy concerns persist as regulators and users weigh effectiveness and data handling.

via Engadget|

#age-verification #gaming #playstation

news1 month ago•47 min saved

UK PlayStation age checks go live in June, risking social features

Sony is rolling out age verification for UK and Ireland PlayStation accounts via partner Yoti; starting in June 2026, players who haven’t verified their age can still play but will lose access to social features such as voice chat, messaging, and party invites, and broadcasting gameplay to YouTube or Twitch will require verification. You can verify early to avoid disruption, and Microsoft has implemented similar age checks on Xbox as more Online Safety Act provisions come into force.

via The Verge|

#age-verification #news #playstation

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Sony Signals Global PlayStation Age Checks for Chat Features

Sony is reportedly rolling out global age verification for PlayStation’s communication features (such as messages and voice chat) later this year, with UK/Ireland users verifying via face scans or ID through Yoti; unverified users would still access games, trophies, and the Store, while privacy and biometric data concerns loom as regulators scrutinize the approach, and Sony also plans to rebrand PSN by September 2026.

via GameSpot|

#age-verification #biometrics #playstation

technology1 month ago•31 min saved

PlayStation to Lock Some Online Chats Behind Age Verification

PlayStation will require age verification to continue using certain online communication features (e.g., messages and voice chat) later this year. The verification will be global, and users who don’t verify can still access games, trophies, and the store, but not the communication tools. Sony says the move is to provide safe, age-appropriate experiences while respecting privacy, aligning with similar measures seen on platforms like Discord and Roblox.

via Insider Gaming|

#age-verification #online-communication #playstation

technology1 month ago•12 min saved

PS5 to Require Age Checks for Messages and Voice Chat in UK and Ireland

Sony confirms PS5 users in the UK and Ireland will need to verify their age later this year to access messaging and voice chat, via options like facial scan, ID, or a mobile verification code scanned from a QR link, as part of new age-verification laws, though privacy and data-security concerns persist.

via Push Square|

#age-verification #biometric-data #ireland

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

EU rolls out privacy-friendly online age checks across Europe

The European Union unveiled a privacy-preserving age-verification tool to verify users’ ages for access to age-restricted online content, with seven member states planning to deploy by year-end. The system uses zero-knowledge proofs and allows three proof methods (passport, national ID, or a trusted attestation via QR code) and is optional for platforms but preferred to meet legal requirements. While officials say it protects kids, privacy advocates warn it could undermine anonymity and raise data-access concerns, urging stronger enforcement of existing rules instead of relying on the new technology.

via politico.eu|

#age-verification #digital-identity #eu

technology1 month ago•306 min saved

EU launches centralized online age-check to shield minors

The European Union unveiled a centralized online age-verification app that acts like a digital ID to confirm users’ ages without sharing birthdates or other sensitive data with every site or app. Users upload an ID to verify age (e.g., 16 or 18) and platforms can check eligibility through the app, while keeping personal details private. The system is designed to meet high privacy standards, and EU states can tailor adoption to national laws; under the Digital Services Act, platforms must show they have effective alternative age-verification methods or face sanctions. While officials say the solution will empower guardians and reduce exposure to harmful content, privacy advocates warn about practical and data-collection concerns. The app is technically ready and will be available to EU citizens soon.

via CNN|

#age-verification #digital-services-act #europe

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

EU Prepares Rollout of Digital Age Verification to Protect Kids

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the bloc’s digital age verification app is technically ready and will soon roll out to let users prove their age via passport, national ID, or trusted providers, with privacy protections; platforms will be held to account to protect kids online, and national versions will follow this year as the app aims to become a global standard and integrate with national digital wallet solutions.

via politico.eu|

#age-verification #digital-platforms #eu

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

Roblox expands age-based accounts to tighten safety, sparking parental worries

Roblox is introducing age-specific accounts—Roblox Kids and Roblox Select—linked to an age-estimation system to tailor features and chat access. Roblox says the system improves safety and reduces grooming, but some parents report misclassifications that can weaken protections and complicate corrections. The move comes amid regulatory pressure on online safety, with Roblox emphasizing monitoring and appeals options while critics call for independent verification of safeguards.

via BBC|

#age-verification #child-protection #online-safety