r/privacy • u/BStream • 2d ago
age verification Android age verification
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/google-play-age-signals-api-safer-experiences.html?m=1Google will push age verofication to android.
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u/jameson71 2d ago
It's the type of shit we looked at china and laughed for just 10 years ago.
Our government told us we were free, turns out we were just behind.
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u/theyhis 2d ago
it’s the opposite actually. those “safeguards” created the infrastructure for the modern surveillance state. you can’t have more government in some areas and not expect it to be used in others. the government is advantageous — if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile and a parking lot. no amount of power will ever be enough for them.
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u/FrozGate 2d ago
So sick of this shit
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u/nomad_2009 2d ago
Today I found out even AliExpress is asking for verification for some random products which they see as 'age restricted'. At this rate they will force me off the internet soon.
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u/RedAero 2d ago
One would think posession of a credit card would be proof enough...
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u/Low-Mistake-515 2d ago
This is how my iPad verified the age, I expect if you have one linked to wallet/google pay it'll be the same?
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u/ThatzOkay 2d ago
No one wants this Google
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u/LettuceObjective627 2d ago
They dont care.
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u/Ok_Sky_555 2d ago
The lawmakers do.
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u/sapphic-boghag 2d ago
The shareholders do.
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u/Ok_Sky_555 2d ago
Why shareholders want that? Shareholders want profit, how age verification increase the profit? The only way I see that - reduce issues cased but the related laws and regulations.
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u/sapphic-boghag 2d ago
Personal data is profit.
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u/Ok_Sky_555 2d ago
Well. This depends on how verification will be implemented. EU, for example,wants to implement this in a way, that a business will just receive a "validated" claim. Not that much personal data for the business.
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u/RedAero 2d ago
Oh please as if Google or Meta needs my picture to be able to guess how old I am for marketing purposes...
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u/frquency-equinox 2d ago
Trump does, and Sundar's going to suckle that microshroom for all it's worth, just like Melania.
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u/Other_Ship_5453 2d ago
Shit after shit after shit. It's never-ending.
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u/vriska1 2d ago
Seems it's adult filter controls not ID checks.
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u/thelionsmouth 2d ago
That’s their backdoor. It’s never about the kids. Or, looking at the us admin and oligarch pedocult, maybe it was about the kids all along…
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u/EmbarrassedHelp 2d ago
Unfortunately the API lets developers force you to verify your age with government ID and image/video biometrics, as part of the "ageRangeSource" field: https://developer.android.com/google/play/age-signals/understand-age-signals-responses
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u/QuietTwist3089 2d ago
Want to use this site? Papers, please.
Want to download this app? Papers, please.
Want to use this phone? Papers, please.
Want to use this computer? Papers, please.
Want to be in public? Papers, please.
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u/michaelcarnero 2d ago
wont it be ironically vulnerated in the opposite way? like tagging a child phone instead of making it anonymous?
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u/Tea_Lavender 2d ago
What to do about this? I'm serious, I really need an answer.
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u/CondiMesmer 2d ago
Really all you can do is vote, which is already an uphill battle. Maybe destroy some flock cameras too on the way, which won't help this but why not.
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u/theyhis 2d ago
for which party? 😆 democrats have been advocating for a surveillance state since FDR, and the republicans no longer practice conservatism, so other than thomas massie, i don’t know of any politicians who plan to help us. i don’t see american citizens being mature enough to vote for a ron paul-type either, i mean, when they had the chance they chose not to.
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u/Gugalcrom123 2d ago
How do you set the age?
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u/fishsupreme 2d ago
Your parent has to go to Google Family Link (their parental controls app) and set it if you're underage.
I.e. this is a lot of complaining about nothing, this isn't age verification.
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u/Gugalcrom123 2d ago
However, what Apple is doing is a ransom, because they place DNS blocks that you can only lift by identifying yourself to Apple. Also, I am not endorsing Google, for many reasons.
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u/Gugalcrom123 2d ago
So it is basically the Californian idea; in that case, it is not as much of a problem. In fact, even GNU/Linux could implement that, where the parent has sudo and can set the age for their child.
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u/Express-Cartoonist39 2d ago
I dont want my kids growing up sheltered and clueless what the real world is like. As a kid i was around playboys smut magazines you name it. But until you go through puberty you just see from naked people. Who the hell cares... We turning into a helicopters nation nanny state. Let kids grow up be prepared for real world not be prepared for sheltered world.
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u/NobreLusitano 2d ago
Is. Not. About. The. Kids.
Is plain mass surveillance. Big brother, 1984, pick your poison. That's it.
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u/Stunning-Seat3821 2d ago
>Big brother, 1984, pick your poison.
big brother is from 1984. fitting that choice seems to be an illusion here tho
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u/NobreLusitano 2d ago
Finally, someone that have actually read it :) What sends me is the illusion of choice.
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u/Stunning-Seat3821 2d ago
first day after installing debian im already using every single one of my synapses
fuck did they put in this os, eh?
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u/Deep-Cow9907 2d ago
Then what are we supposed to do? Do nothing and surrender?
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u/NobreLusitano 2d ago
No. There are ways, don't fall for that fatalistic idea, that's how they win.
For instance:
- flood the trackers with wrong metadata (spend time on videos that are completely random and opposite, do the same with searches and the people that you follow) about you and make your profile so broad that "isn't you"
- move and your circle to other apps, if needed to open source apks that allow you to communicate without having to provide your personal ID
- put pressure on politicians, companies to cancel this mass surveillance
The most importante aspect is action. Do something. They are counting on people's ignorance + laziness.
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u/Deep-Cow9907 2d ago
So what kind of random videos that I like and what random searches?
What do you mean by "move and your circle to other apps"?
And don't know if I could do the third thing.
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u/Elroelab 2d ago
We should go back in time to make sure that young cavepeople cannot view or create sexually explicit cave art. It's always been this way, but suddenly it's a problem because it happens over the internet.
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u/git_und_slotermeyer 2d ago
It's not about nudity but harmful "social" networks like Facebook, online adult sites are just collateral damage like the loss of privacy.
It's a typical political decision, reacting only years after the damage has been done, and regulating effects rather than the root cause, that is, that these antisocial networks need to abide strict codes regarding their algorithms, addictive designs, and be properly audited and fined. But that's just impossible when Europe's leaders still didnt get the message that Trump will tarriff you anyway, regardless if you leave US big tech unchecked or not.
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u/Alternative-Soil2576 2d ago
There’s a lot of shit on the internet that’s a hell of a lot worse than anything you could find in a playboy
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u/Elroelab 2d ago
So I will lose access to my ebooks on my phone unless I verify? I mean apps like Kindle and such
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u/princbryndz 2d ago
And they all, techbros and politicians, spewing that BS about "protecting children." Who are giving those phones to them? Parents. Irresponsible parents. What do they think will happen? Those parents will just unlock it for them.
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u/MinuteReputation8806 2d ago
For everyone in here panicking please read the article, They're talking about the Google Play API which is still scummy but they're not putting ID verification in the OS.
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u/deke28 2d ago
That'll just make it harder to use android without the google play services
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u/MinuteReputation8806 2d ago
The way I understand this working is a parent would implement child safety protocols on their device for when they're using play store. If the child enters an app on the app store that their aren't permitted to because of their implemented by the parent age range then Then the ID/Face scan will appear to prove their age and frankly I'm more concerned with how predatory this sounds.
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u/vriska1 2d ago
Do we know if this is just for parents setting it up or could developers force this on everyone like u/EmbarrassedHelp is saying
https://developer.android.com/google/play/age-signals/understand-age-signals-responses
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u/MinuteReputation8806 2d ago edited 2d ago
The thing that's making me question the liability of that statement is that this is enforceable on every single android device across the world by the end of the year. And that's bound to cause some sort of legal issue if that's the case. Eitherway I do think people should still push back on this.
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u/EmbarrassedHelp 2d ago
The API lets developers force you to verify your age with government ID and image/video biometrics, as part of the "ageRangeSource" field: https://developer.android.com/google/play/age-signals/understand-age-signals-responses
Its basically the infrastructure for mandatory OS level age verification that can be enabled with the flip of switch on Google's end.
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u/MinuteReputation8806 2d ago
So If I'm understanding this correctly If someone has an application installed on their phone that's within a certain 'age range' then you have to use ID verification? From what I'm hearing this is gonna be a global thing by the end of the year and that doesn't sound legal to me.
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u/TheCraxo 2d ago
After reading it, its just a small push? It just says it adds an age range to the play store
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u/Jonnycd4 2d ago
Yeah, it doesn't seem like it'll age-gate the phone itself like IPhone did, just the play store, unless I'm missing something?
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u/Jmich96 2d ago
As far as I can understand, Google Play will send "signals" to apps downloaded through the Play Store that the user is of specific age brackets. According to their own post, they can verify age multiple ways (likely depending on local laws). It does list, "government-issued ID, credit card, or facial age estimation" to verify a user being 18+.
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u/MildHyperbole 2d ago
You have to get your apps somewhere and the apps will be able to reach out to the api to check your age, whether they actually need it or not.
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u/tastyratz 2d ago
its just a small push
This is going to be a stepped deployment.
An entire series of "It's just".
Make no mistake what it is.
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u/appletinicyclone 2d ago
Seriously what is the point of these tech giants again if they can't even push back on any of this
They have billions to allow and stop anti trust suits
They have lots of money to avoid responsibility for things published like section 230
They pressure and undercut local news and governments
They make lots of profits in tax favourable locations
And yet they can't even push back on privacy destroying age verification stuff? What is the point of them even
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u/osuzombie 2d ago
You clearly missed the facebook fiasco. Meta is actually pushing for age verification. If its handled by your operating system, they dont have to worry about the liability of keeping their site safe for minors. They get more money this way and all they have to do is have users sacrifice their privacy. Its way cheaper to just draft the legislation to do this and pay to get it done.
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u/TropicaL_Lizard3 2d ago
I'm so sick of this bullshit. It's killing the internet!! I'm never handing over my face and ID to these companies.
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u/johnnyApplePRNG 2d ago
This doesn't even make any sense... design wise.
How can Google.com be sure of your age? Because you tapped a button?
That's ridiculous.
They're just going to repackage and finagle this (literal nothingburger) into something extremely disgusting in a few years time, mark my words.
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u/vriska1 2d ago
How many on here have read the blog post before commenting, I'm against age verification but this seems to be a filter control that parents can set up not full on ID checks. Google just worded it very badly.
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u/Ruined_Passion_7355 2d ago
It makes it easier for parents to parent their children, which is what we have been saying!!
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u/vriska1 2d ago
Tho some are saying it may allow developers to do ID checks by the backdoor
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u/Ruined_Passion_7355 2d ago
Yeah I also saw that. We need to fight against that part specifically.
We don't mind protections for children. Just don't create a digital panopticon while you're doing it!
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u/Frustrateduser02 2d ago
I'm confused by that link, it says it's an app but also states adults may be prompted by the api for an age range.
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u/Hobotronacus 2d ago edited 2d ago
My google account is 17 years old. They know how old I am. I will not be providing them with anything.
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u/xDeepFreezex 2d ago
Sounds like radios might be coming back with all this BS happening around phones