OS-Level Age Checks Could Shape Your Next Computer Experience
States are moving age checks from websites to the operating system, with California’s AB 1043 taking effect in 2027 and Colorado’s SB 26-051 in 2028, while federal proposals like the Parents Decide Act loom. OSs would prompt for age at setup and share an age range with apps via APIs, a shift that privacy advocates say could invite more invasive verification and erode anonymity. Open-source projects fear compliance and potential loss of privacy, even as lawmakers discuss exemptions for Linux; observers warn the policy could redefine how we prove age online and who can access content.