Age verification system

An age verification system, also known as an age gate, is any technical system that externally verifies a person's age. These systems are used primarily to restrict access to content classified, either voluntarily or by local laws, as being inappropriate for users under a specific age, such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling, video games with objectionable content, pornography, or to remain in compliance with online privacy laws that regulate the collection of personal information from minors, such as COPPA in the United States.[1]

Age verification substantially increased in 2023-2024, with the passage of the U.K. Online Safety Act, a law in France,[2] laws in eight U.S. states including Texas and Utah,[3] and proposals at the federal level in the US, Canada,[4] Denmark,[5] and the EU.[6]

  1. ^ "Letting Your Kids Play in the Social Media Sandbox". The New York Times. 2015-02-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  2. ^ "France Senate passes legislation requiring age verification for minors on social media". 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Age Verification Bills – Action Center".
  4. ^ "Porn sites would have to verify users are over 18 under federal online safety plans". The Globe and Mail. 3 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Denmark to curb children's data collection by tech giants". 13 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Online age verification is coming, and privacy is on the chopping block". 15 May 2023.