Tag

Age Verification

All articles tagged with #age verification

Supreme Court Grants Texas a temporary green light for app age checks
politics4 days ago

Supreme Court Grants Texas a temporary green light for app age checks

The Supreme Court, in an emergency ruling, allowed Texas to enforce its age-verification law for mobile apps pending litigation, giving the state a temporary path to require app stores to verify minors’ ages and obtain parental consent; the decision contains no explained reasoning and leaves the merits for later, with opposition from Apple, Google and advocates who warn the measure could curb access to content and restrict digital speech.

technology4 days ago

Supreme Court lets Texas app-store age-verification law stand during challenge

The Supreme Court declined to block Texas's App Store Accountability Act, allowing the state to enforce its age-verification and parental-consent requirements for app purchases as litigation continues; the law is backed by 27 state attorneys general, while opponents including SEAT and CCIA argue it restricts access to free-speech tools and raises First Amendment concerns.

Australia's youth social-media ban stalls amid lax enforcement, study finds
world12 days ago

Australia's youth social-media ban stalls amid lax enforcement, study finds

A BMJ study of 408 NSW adolescents (ages 12–17) found the under-16 ban on platforms like TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat did not produce an immediate drop in use; most youths continued using their own accounts, with many bypassing age checks via self-declared ages and even selfies in some cases. The researchers caution that weak enforcement and easy circumvention complicate conclusions about policy effectiveness and call for refinement and better implementation.

Australia Tightens Penalties for Platforms Violating Social Media Age Ban
policy13 days ago

Australia Tightens Penalties for Platforms Violating Social Media Age Ban

Australia will double the maximum penalty for breaches of the social media minimum age law to 99 million dollars and give the eSafety Commissioner power to compel platforms to show what steps they have taken to comply with the ban on under-16 users; despite the ban on 10 major platforms since December 2025, enforcement remains difficult, with investigations into Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube and many youths reportedly still able to access banned apps.

Australia tightens Big Tech crackdown as under-16 social media ban evasion rises
technology13 days ago

Australia tightens Big Tech crackdown as under-16 social media ban evasion rises

Australia will double the penalties for social media platforms that fail to keep under-16s off their services, increasing the maximum fine from 49.5 million to 99 million AUD and granting the eSafety Commissioner stronger enforcement powers. The government cites ongoing evasion via older accounts, fake profiles, and private browsers, and is targeting Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Critics say evidence on the ban’s effectiveness is mixed, while regulators insist platforms must take reasonable steps, including age checks and possible government ID verification, to protect minors.

UK Online ID push could bar teens; privacy groups warn
world18 days ago

UK Online ID push could bar teens; privacy groups warn

Britain is considering a law to require online age verification, effectively banning under-16s from social media and forcing adults to show ID for many online services. Privacy advocates, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), warn the plan would create a centralized data-tracking system and may be ineffective, noting teens can bypass it with fake IDs or VPNs and that it could restrict access to educational and community content online.

Britain’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: How Will It Be Enforced?
technology25 days ago

Britain’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: How Will It Be Enforced?

Britain announced an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, with potential extra curbs for older teens and a night-time limit, aiming for spring 2027. The big question is how it will be enforced: will device gates via Apple/Google or platform-by-platform controls (TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) prevail, leaving little time to sort out verification? Experts warn a blunt ban may not solve online harms and could push teens toward riskier corners of the web, while legal and political challenges loom as tech firms weigh their compliance and the U.K. weighs its economic and regulatory stance.

UK to bar under-16s from major social networks by 2027
technology25 days ago

UK to bar under-16s from major social networks by 2027

Britain’s government announced a plan to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms (TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X) with the ban coming into force in spring 2027. The proposal includes age-verification for some users over 16 and feature restrictions for younger users; WhatsApp, Signal and Roblox would not be banned, and YouTube Kids remains exempt. The plan follows a public consultation and has drawn mixed reactions from platforms, safety advocates and lawmakers, with a full platform list and specifics to be released later.

UK to block under-16s from social media by spring 2027 with age checks
technology26 days ago

UK to block under-16s from social media by spring 2027 with age checks

Britain’s Labour government unveiled a plan to ban under-16s from social media by spring 2027, backed by age‑verification measures. The ban would cover major platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while WhatsApp and Signal would remain unaffected and YouTube Kids would continue for under‑16s. Roblox would see restrictions rather than a blanket ban. While pitched as protecting young people, officials acknowledge enforcement challenges and potential VPN workarounds, and critics warn the policy isn’t a silver bullet and could have broader social impacts.

UK Moves to Block Social Apps for Under-16s in World-First Safety Bill
world26 days ago

UK Moves to Block Social Apps for Under-16s in World-First Safety Bill

Britain unveiled a landmark bill that would block under-16s from using major social platforms such as X, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, while extending age checks, livestreaming bans, and restrictions on AI chatbots; messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal would remain allowed; Ofcom will study age-verification methods as enforcement is planned for early 2027, with Australia’s experience cited as a template.

YouTube reintroduces private messaging with invite-based, age-verified chats
technology29 days ago

YouTube reintroduces private messaging with invite-based, age-verified chats

YouTube is bringing back private messaging as an in‑app feature for 18+ users in the US and globally, with access granted via invitation links sent through third‑party messaging platforms and subject to age verification; the system aims to let people share videos and chat with friends and family in one place, while enforcing Community Guidelines as the feature expands.

Apple doubles down on parental controls amid age-verification battles
technology1 month ago

Apple doubles down on parental controls amid age-verification battles

At WWDC, Apple rolled out expanded child accounts with customizable screen time and a feature to block violent images in messages, framing the tools as parental safeguards in a broader fight over online safety regs; Apple said developers share responsibility for age-appropriate experiences, highlighted APIs for parental approvals, and noted it has lobbied against strict age verification while citing ongoing regulatory debates with Meta and others.

Texas taps Digital ID in Wallet for age verification under new rules
technology1 month ago

Texas taps Digital ID in Wallet for age verification under new rules

Texas lawmakers require age verification for new Apple Accounts created in Texas on or after June 4, 2026, making Apple Wallet’s Digital ID a key method to prove you’re 18+. You can create Digital ID in Wallet (Driver’s License/ID, then Digital ID with a US passport). Digital ID is already used at TSA checkpoints in some regions, and if similar laws spread, it could become a privacy-friendly nationwide age-verification option.

Apple Wallet's Digital ID Expands to Verify Age for Apple Accounts
technology1 month ago

Apple Wallet's Digital ID Expands to Verify Age for Apple Accounts

Apple has expanded its Wallet-based Digital ID so it can be used to confirm users are adults for Apple Accounts and services, in addition to its existing TSA airport use. Digital ID can be created with a US passport on iPhone or Apple Watch and is now an official age-verification method for select Apple activities, with broader adoption expected as more use cases roll out.

technology1 month ago

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.