Age verification

{{Short description|Measure used to restrict access by age}} '''Age verification''', or '''age gate''', is the use of 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 internet privacy laws that regulate the collection of personal information from minors, such as COPPA in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/19/style/letting-your-kids-play-in-the-social-media-sandbox.html|title=Letting Your Kids Play in the Social Media Sandbox|date=2015-02-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Age verification substantially increased in 2023–2024, with the passage of the Online Safety Act 2023 in the UK, a law in France,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/06/france-senate-passes-legislation-requiring-age-verification-for-minors-on-social-media/ | title=France Senate passes legislation requiring age verification for minors on social media | date=30 June 2023 }}</ref> laws in eight U.S. states including Texas and Utah,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/age-verification-bills/ | title=Age Verification Bills – Action Center }}</ref> and proposals at the national level in the US, Canada,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-porn-sites-would-have-to-verify-users-are-over-18-under-federal-online/ | title=Porn sites would have to verify users are over 18 under federal online safety plans | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=3 April 2023 }}</ref> Denmark,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.verdict.co.uk/denmark-children-privacy-rules/ | title=Denmark to curb children's data collection by tech giants | date=13 June 2023 }}</ref> and the EU.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theverge.com/23721306/online-age-verification-privacy-laws-child-safety | title=Online age verification is coming, and privacy is on the chopping block | date=15 May 2023 }}</ref>

Age verification can be categorized into parental responsibility and online service provider responsibility.<ref name="z561">{{cite journal | last1=Jarvie | first1=Chelsea | last2=Renaud | first2=Karen | title=Online Age Verification: Government Legislation, Supplier Responsibilization, and Public Perceptions | journal=Children | volume=11 | issue=9 | date=2024 | issn=2227-9067 | pmid=39334601 | pmc=11429505 | doi=10.3390/children11091068 | doi-access=free | page=1068}}</ref> Age verification through online providers was associated with a general public distrust of the government.<ref name="z561"/>

Age verification is controversial. Online age verification is distinct from a mandatory digital identity used in some countries with techno-authoritarianism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=G'sell |first=Florence |chapter=Digital Authoritarianism: From State Control to Algorithmic Despotism |date=2025 |title=The Oxford Handbook of Digital Constitutionalism |editor-last=De Gregorio |editor-first=Giovanni |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/58210/chapter/529885915 |access-date=2025-10-18 |edition=1 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198877820.013.20 |isbn=978-0-19-887782-0 |editor2-last=Pollicino |editor2-first=Oreste |editor3-last=Valcke |editor3-first=Peggy|chapter-url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Methods ==

=== Honor system === [[File:Age verification honor system.svg|thumb|Example of an honor-based age verification dialog box displayed upon entering a website]] The most basic form of age verification is to require a person to input their date of birth on a form or to click a button to declare they are above a certain age. However, this depends on an honor system that assumes the honesty of the end user. The person may, for instance, be a minor who fraudulently inserts a valid date that meets the age criteria, rather than their own. For this reason the system has been described as ineffective.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/features/red-band-trailers-1200391717/|title=Trailers Jump on the Age-Restricted Red-Band Wagon|last=Debruge|first=Peter|date=2013-05-02|work=Variety|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Wired.com" />

===Parental controls=== Parental controls enable parents to apply internet filters to restrict their children's access to content they deem inappropriate for their age.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Inappropriate content: protecting your child {{!}} Internet Matters |language=en-GB |work=Internet Matters |url=https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/inappropriate-content/ |access-date=2017-09-03}}</ref> Contemporary parental controls have been criticized for being too restrictive or too permissive, difficulty of use and ease of bypassing.<ref name="i638">{{cite journal | last1=Stoilova | first1=Mariya | last2=Bulger | first2=Monica | last3=Livingstone | first3=Sonia | title=Do parental control tools fulfil family expectations for child protection? A rapid evidence review of the contexts and outcomes of use | journal=Journal of Children and Media | volume=18 | issue=1 | date=2024 | issn=1748-2798 | doi=10.1080/17482798.2023.2265512 | pages=29–49 | url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482798.2023.2265512 | access-date=2026-02-19}}</ref>

=== Credit card verification === Some age verification systems require people to provide credit card information; this method depends on an assumption that the vast majority of credit card holders are adults, because U.S. credit card companies did not originally issue cards to minors.<ref name="Wired.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2002/10/why-online-age-checks-dont-work/|title=Why Online Age Checks Don't Work|work=Wired.com|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Additionally, a minor may still attempt to obtain their parent's credit card information, or persuade or defraud users into divulging their credit card number to an individual to use for their own purposes, defeating the stated purpose of the system.<ref> {{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2001/11/48565 |title=Oz Proposes Tough New Filter Law |magazine=Wired |accessdate=2008-06-06 |last= |first= |date=2001-11-22 }} </ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/witness-credit-cards-not-age-verifying-tools/|title=Witness: Credit cards not age verifying tools|date=1999-01-21|work=CNET|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en}}</ref>

In 2005, Salvatore LoCascio pleaded guilty to charges of credit card fraud; one of his schemes had involved using credit card-based age verification systems to charge users for "free" tours of adult entertainment websites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/feb/16/newmedia.usnews|title=US gang admits $650m internet porn fraud|last=Milmo|first=Dan|date=2005-02-16|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref>

=== Federated identification === Aylo, a major operator of porn websites, operates an age verification provider known as AgeID. First introduced in Germany in 2015, it uses third-party providers to authenticate the user's age, and a single sign-on model that allows the verified identity to be shared across any participating website.<ref name="Engadget-1" /><ref name="Engadget-2" />

=== Facial age estimation === Facial age estimation uses machine learning to estimate the user's age by analysing their facial features in a selfie. This is combined with a liveness test in order to ensure that the image is that of a real person and not a static or simulated image.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2025-07-17 |title=Roblox will require a facial scan or government ID to have unfiltered chats |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/708670/roblox-trusted-connections-age-estimation-privacy |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Omran|first1=N|last2=Alrayes|first2=M|last3=Khlifa|first3=Z|last4=Alfagi|first4=A|date=July 2022|title=Real-Time Liveness Detection Algorithm Based on Eyes Detection and Utilize Age Estimation Technique to Build a Controllable Environment|url=https://www.stcrs.com.ly/istj/docs/volumes/Real%20Time%20Liveness.pdf|journal=International Science and Technology Journal|volume=30}}</ref>

Due to the facial age verification implementation with Persona in the massive online game platform Roblox in 2025, it has faced a lot of negative feedback for the lack of communication between ages and frustration it has caused the community.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=David |title=Roblox’s AI-Powered Age Verification Is a Complete Mess |url=https://www.wired.com/story/robloxs-ai-powered-age-verification-is-a-complete-mess/ |access-date=2026-04-11 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> The insular CEO of the Roblox Corporation has hence faced many criticisms and backlash although no steps have been taken to undo the damage dealt. It has since spiked the growth of facial age estimation leading other big platforms in its footsteps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Barbara |date=2026-03-08 |title=Online age-verification tools spread across U.S. for child safety, but adults are being surveilled |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/social-media-child-safety-internet-ai-surveillance.html |access-date=2026-04-11 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord delays global rollout of age verification after backlash |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/24/discord-delays-global-rollout-of-age-verification-after-backlash/ |access-date=2026-04-11 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Behavioral analysis === Some age estimation systems are based on the use of machine learning to estimate the user's age based on AI analysis of their behavior and usage of a service (such as content accessed).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Guzman |first=Chad de |title=YouTube to Estimate Users' Ages Using AI |url=https://time.com/7309268/youtube-ai-age-estimation-us-how-why-privacy-concerns-explainer/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250818053949/https://time.com/7309268/youtube-ai-age-estimation-us-how-why-privacy-concerns-explainer/ |archive-date=2025-08-18 |access-date=2026-02-22 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonifield |first1=Stevie |last2=Roth |first2=Emma |date=February 10, 2026 |title=Discord says 'vast majority' of users won't see its new age verification setup |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/876575/discord-age-verification-vast-majority-users-inference |accessdate=February 10, 2026 |work=The Verge}}</ref> These systems can catch false positives despite the complexity of the artificial intelligence, such as falsely declaring an adult to be a minor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roth |first1=Emma |date=April 16, 2026 |title=Age verification is a mess but we’re doing it anyway |url=https://www.theverge.com/policy/913038/age-verification-flaws |accessdate=April 16, 2026 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

=== Zero-knowledge proof === Zero-knowledge proofs can be used to verify a person's age without the person disclosing their identity, either to the receiver, such as a business, or the verifying entity, like a government that issues a passport.<ref>{{cite book | chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-17140-6_6 | doi=10.1007/978-3-031-17140-6_6 | chapter=Zero-Knowledge Age Restriction for GNU Taler | title=Computer Security – ESORICS 2022 | series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science | date=2022 | last1=Kesim | first1=Özgür | last2=Grothoff | first2=Christian | last3=Dold | first3=Florian | last4=Schanzenbach | first4=Martin | volume=13554 | pages=110–129 | isbn=978-3-031-17139-0 | s2cid=251034808 }}</ref>

Many such implementations of age verification have been criticised for the use of mobile apps which require device attestation to function, effectively making them unavailable to those who can't or don't want to use the major mobile phone platforms Android or iOS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU might enforce Google Play Integrity for their Digital Wallet App - GrapheneOS Discussion Forum |url=https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/24452-eu-might-enforce-google-play-integrity-for-their-digital-wallet-app |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112193722/https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/24452-eu-might-enforce-google-play-integrity-for-their-digital-wallet-app |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=GrapheneOS Discussion Forum |language=en}}</ref> Such systems also often require app installation{{snd}} either through the app stores operated by Google or Apple or using some third-party installation method, and they depend on the mobile device's owner having trust in the verification app and the installation system.

=== Knowledge === The adult-oriented video game franchise ''Leisure Suit Larry'' presented players with trivia questions that, in the opinion of franchise creator Al Lowe, a child would not be likely to know the answer to (such as, for example, "All politicians are: a. hard-working, b. honest, c. on the public payroll"), in order to launch the game (although this could be bypassed with a keyboard shortcut).<ref name="newstatesman">{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200607310047|title=How to Catch a Humbert – Could a "yoof" questionnaire help identify internet paedophiles?|last=Hogge|first=Beckey|work=NewStatesman.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606044855/http://www.newstatesman.com/200607310047|archivedate=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref>

==Data breaches== Age verification systems have been criticized for privacy and computer security risks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=2025 |title=The "Segregate-and-Suppress" Approach to Regulating Child Safety Online |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5208739 |journal=SSRN Electronic Journal |doi=10.2139/ssrn.5208739 |ssrn=5208739 |issn=1556-5068}}</ref> Age verification system data breaches have included AU10TIX (2024),<ref name="u986">{{cite web | last=Ropek | first=Lucas | title=Identity Verification Firm Used by X, TikTok, and Uber Exposed Users' Driver's Licenses | website=Gizmodo | date=2024 | url=https://gizmodo.com/identity-verification-firm-used-by-x-tiktok-and-uber-1851562934 | access-date=2026-03-28}}</ref> Discord/Zendesk (2025)<ref name="l360">{{cite web | last=Booth | first=Robert | title=Hack of age verification firm may have exposed 70,000 Discord users' ID photos | website=The Guardian | date=2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/oct/09/hack-age-verification-firm-discord-users-id-photos | access-date=2026-03-28}}</ref> and Persona (2026).<ref name="k773">{{cite web | last=Belanger | first=Ashley | title=Fury over Discord's age checks explodes after shady Persona test in UK | website=Ars Technica | date=2026 | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/discord-and-persona-end-partnership-after-shady-uk-age-test-sparks-outcry/ | access-date=2026-03-28}}</ref>

== Legal mandates == {{Further Information|Online age verification laws by country}}

=== Australia === Australia intended to implement requirements for age verification under the ''Online Safety Act 2021''. In August 2023, Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland released a report by eSafety that recommended against such a scheme, finding that "at present, each type of age verification or age assurance technology comes with its own privacy, security, effectiveness or implementation issue", and suggesting that an industry code be adopted to promote the use of content filtering software to parents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=2023-08-30 |title=Australia will not force adult websites to bring in age verification due to privacy and security concerns |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/31/roadmap-for-age-verification-online-pornographic-material-adult-websites-australia-law |access-date=2023-08-31 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In May 2024, the federal government allocated A$6.5 million from the 2024 Australian federal budget to a pilot age verification scheme meant to protect children from accessing pornography and other harmful digital content in response to a sharp rise in domestic violence nationally.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Josh |title=The Australian government wants to stop minors accessing online pornography. But how will the trial work? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/australia-porn-age-verification-technology-government |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911073700/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/australia-porn-age-verification-technology-government |archive-date=11 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hendry |first1=Justin |title=Online age verification pilot gets green light |url=https://www.innovationaus.com/online-age-verification-pilot-gets-green-light/ |website=InnovationAus.com |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805135126/https://www.innovationaus.com/online-age-verification-pilot-gets-green-light/ |archive-date=5 August 2024 |date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 September 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland confirmed that the federal government would introduce legislation to enforce a minimum age for access to social media and other relevant digital platforms. The federal government would also work with states and territorial governments to develop a uniform framework. Albanese said that the legislation was intended to safeguard the safety and mental and physical health of young people while Rowland said that the proposed legislation would hold big tech to account for harmful online environments and social media addiction among children.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Albanese |first1=Anthony |last2=Rowland |first2=Michelle |title=Albanese Government set to introduce minimum age for social media access |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/albanese-government-set-introduce-minimum-age-social-media-access |publisher=Prime Minister of Australia |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911082443/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/albanese-government-set-introduce-minimum-age-social-media-access |archive-date=11 September 2024 |date=10 September 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The minimum age is likely to be set between 14 and 16 years of age. The federal government's announcement followed South Australia's plan to restrict social media access to people aged 14 and above, and the Coalition's promise to restrict social media access to people aged 16 if it won the 2025 Australian federal election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Josh |title=Australia plans to ban children from social media. Is checking and enforcing an age block possible? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/10/australia-children-social-media-ban-age-limit-under-16-details |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911015824/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/10/australia-children-social-media-ban-age-limit-under-16-details |archive-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>

The federal government's moves to impose a social media age limit was supported by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Queensland Premier Steven Miles. The Coalition's communications spokesman David Coleman said social media age verification should be limited to those aged 16 and above.<ref name="1 News social media ban">{{cite news |title=Debate rages as Australia set to ban children from social media |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/10/debate-rages-as-australia-set-to-ban-children-from-social-media/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=1News |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910083505/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/10/debate-rages-as-australia-set-to-ban-children-from-social-media/ |archive-date=10 September 2024}}</ref> In response, the Australian Association of Psychologists director Carly Dober described the Government's proposed social media age limit as a "bandaid response to a very complicated and deeply entrenched issue". She also said that the ban ignored the benefits that online spaces could offer to young people, especially those from marginalised communities.<ref name="1 News social media ban" /> Similar criticism was echoed by Daniel Angus, director of the Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Research Centre, and the Australian Internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, who expressed concern that a social media ban would exclude young people from "meaningful" digital engagement and access to critical support.<ref name="Reuters social media ban">{{cite news |last1=Kaye |first1=Byron |last2=Jose |first2=Renju |title=Australia plans social media minimum age limit, angering youth digital advocates |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/australia-plans-social-media-ban-children-2024-09-09/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Reuters |date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911052235/https://www.reuters.com/technology/australia-plans-social-media-ban-children-2024-09-09/ |archive-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>

On 7 November, Prime Minister Albanese confirmed that the government would introduce legislation in November to ban young people under the age of 16 from using social media. The proposed legislation would not include exemptions for young people who already have social media accounts or those with parental consent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Truu |first1=Maani |last2=Lavoipierre |first2=Ange |title=Labor backs 16 as the minimum age to use social media ahead of national cabinet meeting |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-07/labor-backs-social-media-age-minimum-16-years/104571186 |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107033823/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-07/labor-backs-social-media-age-minimum-16-years/104571186 |archive-date=7 November 2024}}</ref> The children's advocacy group Australian Child Rights Taskforce criticised the proposed law as a "blunt instrument" and urged the Albanese government to instead impose safety standards on social media platforms. By contrast, the 36Months initiative has supported the social media age limit on the grounds that excessive social media usage was "rewiring young brains" and causing an "epidemic of mental illness".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |title=Australia plans social media ban for under-16s |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzd62g1r3o |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=BBC News |date=9 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108000512/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzd62g1r3o |archive-date=8 November 2024}}</ref>

On 21 November, the Albanese government introduced the ''Online Safety Amendment'', legislation that would ban young people under the age of 16 from accessing social media and proposed fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) on social media platforms for systemic breaches. The proposed law would affect Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and Snapchat. However, Albanese confirmed that children would still have access to messaging, online gaming, and health and education-related services including the youth mental health platform Headspace, Google Classroom and YouTube. The opposition Liberals intend to support the legislation while the Australian Greens have sought more details on the proposed law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jose |first1=Renju |title=Australia launches 'landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-launches-landmark-bill-ban-social-media-children-under-16-2024-11-21/ |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=Reuters |date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121035217/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-launches-landmark-bill-ban-social-media-children-under-16-2024-11-21/ |archive-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>

=== Canada === The proposed legislation Bill S-210—which passed the Senate in 2023 and began committee review in the House of Commons in late-May 2024, would prohibit organizations from making "sexually explicit" material available on the internet for commercial purposes to users under the age of 18, unless an age verification system is implemented, or the content has a legitimate artistic, educational, or scientific purpose.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Stephanie |date=2024-05-28 |title=Could a Senate bill cause age verification laws to apply to Netflix? Experts say yes |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/could-a-senate-bill-cause-age-verification-laws-to-apply-to-netflix-experts-say-yes-1.6903985 |access-date=2024-05-28 |publisher=Canadian Press |language=en |via=CP24}}</ref><ref name="Geist-2024">{{Cite web |last=Geist |first=Michael |date=2024-05-24 |title=Filibuster of Bill S-210 Confirmed: Conservative MPs Put Privacy and Free Speech Online At Risk Over Release of Report - Michael Geist |url=https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/filibuster-of-bill-s-210-confirmed-conservative-mps-put-privacy-and-free-speech-online-at-risk-over-release-of-report/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Geist-2023">{{Cite web |last=Geist |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Geist |date=2023-12-14 |title=The Most Dangerous Canadian Internet Bill You've Never Heard Of Is a Step Closer to Becoming Law |url=https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2023/12/the-most-dangerous-canadian-internet-bill-youve-never-heard-of-is-a-step-closer-to-becoming-law/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> The bill has been criticized for privacy implications, not specifically specifying a required form of age verification, and freedom of expression concerns surrounding its scope—which can include social networking and online video services, and allow for blocking of entire websites to users in Canada if they do not comply with orders issued under the bill—even if the rest of the content is otherwise non-pornographic.<ref name="Geist-2023"/><ref name="Geist-2024" />

===China=== {{further information|Internet real-name system in China}} On August 30, 2021, the State Press and Publication Administration issued the Notice of the State Press and Publication Administration on Further Strict Management to Effectively Prevent Minors from Being Addicted to Online Games, which stipulates that all online game enterprises may only provide online game services to minors for one hour from 20:00 to 21:00 daily on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and may not provide online game services to minors in any form at other times.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nppa.gov.cn/nppa/contents/279/98792.shtml |title=存档副本 |access-date=2021-09-27 |archive-date=2022-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524234931/https://www.nppa.gov.cn/nppa/contents/279/98792.shtml }}</ref>

=== Germany === In Germany age verification systems are mandated by the "Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag" which was introduced in September 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Landesrecht BW JMStV {{!}} Landesnorm Baden-Württemberg {{!}} Gesamtausgabe {{!}} Gesetz zum Staatsvertrag über den Schutz der Menschenwürde und den Jugendschutz in Rundfunk und Telemedien (Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag - JMStV) vom 4. Februar 2003 {{!}} gültig ab: 08.02.2003 |url=https://www.landesrecht-bw.de/jportal/?quelle=jlink&query=JMedienSchStVtrG+BW&psml=bsbawueprod.psml&max=true&aiz=true |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=www.landesrecht-bw.de}}</ref> The institution in charge Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM) considers only systems equivalent to face-to-face verification as sufficient for age verification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Altersverifikationssysteme - KJM |url=https://www.kjm-online.de/aufsicht/technischer-jugendmedienschutz/unzulaessige-angebote/altersverifikationssysteme |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=www.kjm-online.de |language=de}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom === {{main|Online age verification in the United Kingdom}}

With the passing of the Digital Economy Act 2017, the United Kingdom passed a law containing a legal mandate on the provision of age verification. Under the act, websites that publish pornography on a commercial basis would have been required to implement a "robust" age verification system.<ref name="guardian-uklaw">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/apr/17/online-pornography-age-checks-to-be-mandatory-in-uk-from-15-july|title=Online pornography age checks to be mandatory in UK from 15 July|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=2019-04-17|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-04-17|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=wired-2019-03-06>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/porn-block-uk-wired-explains|title=Why the UK's porn block is one of the worst ideas ever|last=Manthorpe|first=Rowland|date=2019-03-06|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=2019-03-08|issn=1357-0978}}</ref> The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) was charged with enforcing this legislation.<ref name="Engadget-1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/23/pornhub-mindgeek-age-verification-ageid-digital-economy-uk-online-porn/|title=Pornhub owner may become the UK's gatekeeper of online porn|work=Engadget|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Engadget-2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/03/pornhub-owner-reveals-age-verification-tool-for-uk/|title=Pornhub's owner reveals its age verification tool for the UK|work=Engadget|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43292457|title=Porn check critics fear data breach|last=Kleinman|first=Zoe|date=2018-03-06|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref> After a series of setbacks and public backlash, the planned scheme was eventually abandoned in 2019.<ref name=Waterson2019-10-16>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/oct/16/uk-drops-plans-for-online-pornography-age-verification-system|title=UK drops plans for online pornography age verification system|last=Waterson |first=Jim|date=2019-10-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-16|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

While the UK government abandoned this legislation, age verification continues to be monitored and enforced by regulatory bodies including Ofcom<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=Statement: 'Specially restricted material' and Age Verification Guidance for Providers of On-Demand Programme Services|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/restricted-material-age-verification-odps-guidance|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Ofcom|language=en}}</ref> and the ICO.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-14|title=Information Commissioner's opinion: Age Assurance for the Children's Code|url=https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/documents/4018659/age-assurance-opinion-202110.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-10|website=ICO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014093226/https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/documents/4018659/age-assurance-opinion-202110.pdf |archive-date=2021-10-14 }}</ref> Other standards are emerging for age assurance systems, such as PAS1296:2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PAS 1296 - Age Check Certification Scheme|url=https://www.accscheme.com/services/age-assurance/pas-1296|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.accscheme.com}}</ref> The ISO standard for age assurance systems (PWI 7732) is also being developed by the Age Check Certificate Scheme, the Age Verification Providers’ Association, and other Conformity Assessment Bodies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Standards for Age Verification {{!}} AVPA|url=https://avpassociation.com/standards-for-age-verification/|access-date=2022-01-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, Parliament passed the Online Safety Act 2023; as part of the mandatory duty of care to protect children, all service providers must use age verification or estimation to prevent children from accessing "primary priority content that is harmful to children", which includes pornographic images. The provisions took effect on 25 July 2025, and apply to all services that host such content, including social networks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Online Safety Act 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/contents/enacted |website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=The UK is launching 'porn age checks'. This is what will happen |url=https://www.the-independent.com/tech/uk-porn-age-verification-b2795354.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2025-07-10 |title=Bluesky is rolling out age verification in the UK |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/704468/bluesky-age-verification-uk-online-safety-act |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Major pornography sites to introduce 'robust' age verification for UK users |url=https://news.sky.com/story/major-pornography-sites-to-introduce-robust-age-verification-for-uk-users-13388827 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-26 |title=Age checks for online safety – what you need to know as a user |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/age-checks-for-online-safety--what-you-need-to-know-as-a-user |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Ofcom |language=en}}</ref>

=== United States === {{Further|Social media age verification laws in the United States}} Some websites of alcoholic beverage companies attempt to verify the age of visitors so that they can confirm they are at least the American legal drinking age of 21.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raol |first=Jay |date=2021-10-01 |title=Age Verification Solutions in alcohol industry - Verifying your customers |url=https://www.idmerit.com/blog/age-verification-solutions-in-the-alcohol-industry/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=IDMerit |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2000, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) took effect at the federal level, resulting in some websites adding age verification for visitors under the age of 13, and some websites disallowing accounts for users under the age of 13. Companies such as YouTube and ByteDance have received large fines from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for not complying with COPPA.

In 2022, [https://idscan.net/blog/the-future-of-digital-age-verification-louisiana-utah-arkansas-look-to-require-sites-to-check-id-before-entry/ Louisiana became the first state to require age verification] for accessing adult websites. Usage of LA Wallet, the state's digital ID and mobile drivers license app, subsequently spiked, as LA Wallet allows for remote identification via MindGeek, the owner of many major porn sites.

In 2023, several states, including Arkansas<ref name="Millar-2023">{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=Lindsey |date=2023-04-05 |title=Arkansas House wants you to show ID to use social media |url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2023/04/05/arkansas-house-wants-you-to-show-id-to-use-social-media |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Arkansas Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and Utah,<ref name="NBC-News-2023">{{Cite web |title=Utah governor signs parental consent laws for minor social media use |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/social-media-law-utah-parent-consent-age-verification-curfew-rcna76178 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=NBC News |date=23 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> passed social media addiction bills requiring users of social media platforms to be over the age of 18 or have parental consent, with these bills prescribing that age verification be used to enforce this requirement.<ref name="NBC-News-2023" /><ref name="Millar-2023" /> One such bill is the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, which is scheduled to take effect in 2024, and attempts to prevent minors from using social media from 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM.

In May 2023, a law passed in Utah requiring that pornography websites verify the ages of their visitors, although it has a clause that bars it from taking effect until five other states also implement similar measures.<ref name="AP-NEWS-2023">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Utah law requiring porn sites verify user ages takes effect |url=https://apnews.com/article/porn-age-verification-utah-8f8f4960ad1ec4afc5d59fd7d34c3b9d |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> A few days before the law passed, in order to protest the bill, Pornhub blocked their website from being viewed in Utah.<ref name="AP-NEWS-2023" /> The trade group Free Speech Coalition filed a lawsuit against the state of Utah, claiming the law violated the First Amendment. The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Court Judge Ted Stewart on August 1, 2023; however, the Free Speech Coalition stated they would appeal this ruling.<ref name="Tavss 2023">{{cite web |last=Tavss |first=Jeff |title=Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Utah porn site age-verification law |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=August 1, 2023 | url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2023/08/01/judge-dismisses-lawsuit/ |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Metz 2023">{{cite web |last=Metz |first=Sam |title=Utah law requiring age verification for porn sites remains in effect after judge tosses lawsuit |website=AP |date=August 2, 2023 |url=https://apnews.com/article/porn-age-verification-lawsuit-dismissed-utah-23cf1851eeba6ca52ad3fdd0e846cb1f |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

In contrast, on August 31, 2023, US District Judge David Ezra invalidated a Texas law passed in June mandating age verification and health warnings before accessing pornographic websites following a lawsuit from the Free Speech Coalition, and barred the state attorney general's office from enforcing the law on the grounds that it violates the right to free speech and is overly broad and vague. The Texas Attorney General's office stated they would appeal the ruling.<ref name="Miller 2023">{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Ken |title=A federal judge strikes down a Texas law requiring age verification to view pornographic websites |website=AP News |date=September 1, 2023 |url=https://apnews.com/article/pornography-age-verification-texas-unconstitutional-48af1b99434cdfddd12351f555aeab11 |access-date=September 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Bowman 2023">{{cite web |last=Bowman |first=Emma |title=A Texas law requiring age verification on porn sites is unconstitutional, judge rules |website=NPR |date=September 1, 2023 | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/01/1197380455/a-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-on-porn-sites-is-unconstitutional-judge-r |access-date=September 16, 2023}}</ref> The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the injunction pending a full hearing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Kelsey |date=2023-11-19 |title=U.S. circuit court upholds Texas pornography age verification law |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/u-s-circuit-court-upholds-texas-pornography-age-verification-law/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=KXAN |language=en-US}}</ref> The case eventually progressed to the Supreme Court,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-texas-porn-sites-age-verification-law/ | title= Supreme Court agrees to review Texas age verification law for porn sites | first = Melissa | last = Quinn | date = July 2, 2024 | accessdate = July 2, 2024 | work = CBS News }}</ref> who ruled 6–3 in favor of the age verification law, holding that it "only incidentally burdens the protected speech of adults".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Totenberg |first=Nina |date=2025-06-27 |title=Supreme Court sides with Texas' age verification law for porn sites |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/06/27/nx-s1-5422424/scotus-texas-porn-law |access-date=2025-06-28 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

A new variant of these laws began to surface in late-2025, which requires all operating system vendors to include functionality for securely storing a user's date of birth in their account, and include an age attestation API producing a "digital signal" communicating the user's age or age range to applications which request it. They also require all application vendors to request the age signal whenever software is downloaded or launched on the device. Unlike other bills, these bills do not actually require that the age be verified, nor does it require application stores to restrict access to content based on the user's age. However, these bills stipulate that age signals received by applications also constitute actual knowledge of the user's age, which may make their vendors liable under other state and federal laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oh|first=Maki DePalo, Hyun Jai|date=2025-10-23|title=California Enacts Digital Age Verification Law|url=https://www.alstonprivacy.com/california-enacts-digital-age-verification-law/|access-date=2026-03-25|website=Alston & Bird Privacy, Cyber & Data Strategy Blog|language=en-US}}</ref> The first of these bills, the Digital Age Assurance Act, was signed into law by California in October 2025. The bill has faced criticism for its wide reach, including impacting free and open-source software platforms who may not have the nessecary infrastructure to implement the requirements, and applying to operating systems not always used for general computing (such as embedded systems and servers).<ref name="tomshardware">{{cite web |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/operating-systems/california-introduces-age-verification-law|title=California introduces age verification law for all operating systems, including Linux and SteamOS|publisher=Tom's Hardware|date=2026-03-04|access-date=2026-03-25}}</ref><ref name="kelley">{{cite web |url=https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/ad-law-access/faq-digital-age-assurance-act-california-youth-safety-on-the-internet|title=FAQs on the Digital Age Assurance Act|publisher=Kelley Drye Ad Law Access|date=2025-10-21|access-date=2026-03-25}}</ref><ref name="hunton">{{cite web |url=https://www.hunton.com/privacy-and-cybersecurity-law-blog/california-introduces-new-age-verification-requirements-for-software-applications|title=California Introduces New Age Verification Requirements for Software Applications|publisher=Hunton Andrews Kurth Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Blog|access-date=2026-03-25}}</ref>

== Trade association == The Age Verification Providers Association is a trade association of companies in the sector.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Milmo |first1=Dan |last2=Waterson |first2=Jim |date=2022-02-08 |title=Porn sites in UK will have to check ages in planned update to online safety bill |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/08/porn-sites-in-uk-will-have-to-check-ages-in-planned-update-to-online-safety-bill |access-date=2023-10-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It was founded in 2018 and had 27 member companies as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-14 |title=Members - AVPA |url=https://avpassociation.com/members/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Censorship and websites}} Category:Identity documents Category:Censorship of pornography Category:Age verification Category:Internet censorship Category:Internet-related controversies Category:Computing-related controversies Category:Mass intelligence-gathering systems Category:Espionage