Google is introducing new age verification measures in the Play Store that could prevent app downloads without age confirmation.
**Important points to consider:**
– Google is implementing age verification on the Play Store, mandating users to confirm they are 18 or older.
– Age verification can be completed using an ID, selfie, credit card, or a third-party service.
– Some users have expressed worries regarding data privacy and have reported being unable to access their accounts post-verification.
Recently, Google has been using AI for age verification across multiple services, and now the company has allegedly begun to deploy the age verification feature for the Google Play Store, necessitating users to demonstrate they are at least 18 years old.
Just a few months after YouTube started requiring users to verify their ages, Google seems to be following suit with the Play Store. As noted by Artem Russakovskii on X, Google has commenced the rollout of age verification checks for the Play Store.
Russakovskii indicated that Google Play will restrict downloads of “many apps” until age verification is completed. Google is providing several options for this, including submitting an ID, taking a selfie, entering credit card details, or confirming through a third-party service known as verifymy.io.
It seems the rollout is in its early stages and is slowly reaching users. The exact locations for the enforcement of these checks are still uncertain, but it seems likely that the feature will arrive soon in the U.S. Users can verify their age manually via a link without waiting for a prompt from Google. Nevertheless, not all verification methods may be accessible in every area.
**You may soon need to confirm your age on the Play Store**
The reason behind these checks is primarily to adhere to new regulations enacted in several U.S. states, such as Texas, Utah, and Louisiana, which require app stores to verify the ages of users before permitting downloads of age-sensitive applications. Similar laws are also expected to take effect in Texas and California.
While the initiative aims to safeguard minors from unsuitable content, numerous users on Reddit and X have voiced concerns about disclosing their personal information to Google and the risks of potential data leaks or misuse. Reports have also surfaced of some individuals being locked out of Google Search for not passing the verification process, leading to additional privacy concerns.
