From the press release [my emphasis]:
Require operating system developers like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages when setting up a new device, rather than relying on self-reported ages.
cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/25834609
The U.S. has been quietly building up a set of state-level laws that push operating system providers into the age verification plague.
California’s AB 1043, signed in October 2025, requires OS providers to collect age data at account setup and pipe it to apps through a real-time API. It kicks in on January 1, 2027.
Colorado is working on something nearly identical. SB26-051 (which we covered when it was still a proposal) passed the state Senate 28-7 on March 3, 2026, and is now waiting on a House vote to become law there too.
However, these are just state-level laws. A new federal bill, H.R.8250, introduced on April 13, 2026, by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, with Rep. Elise M. Stefanik signing on as cosponsor, has us intrigued.
Please, dear readers, don’t let this sound encouraging (and no shade to you commenter, I’m not disagreeing with you, just adding on top).
Broad unenforceable laws that everyone basically constantly violates because of how they’re written - these are actually weapons used to perform selective enforcement.
Speed limits are a good example, in many jurisdictions all speed limits are artificially low, everyone goes the “normal” speed, and this allows cops to pick and choose their targets. This is partially how “driving while black” could be de facto criminalized, if that reference is familiar.
Them being bad at this stuff is not as helpful to us as it may seem, when ultimately this and many other laws have a primary purpose that supersedes the stated aims of the law. That purpose being, facilitating targeted enforcement by giving a plausible air of legitimacy.
You are 100% right. They will pass all of this and it will suck for a large majority of us. I’m not suggesting it will all be unenforceable (although a large part might be). I’m venting that these people in charge are seeing an opportunity to control and limit much of what has gotten away from being easily surveilled in the first place.
This is no different than the half a dozen various legislative “solutions” to keeping children online safe.
The common thread is it’s never really about children or keeping anyone “safe”. It’s about controlling people and information. Previously there were lots opposition from various tech industries and infighting but this seems to be gaining traction which scares the crap out of me. The obvious technical limitations, first amendment violations, and giant loopholes from the internet being a global thing are still there but it doesn’t seem to matter.