Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Google expands the Play Age Signals API globally to share children's ages with apps.
Google announced the global expansion of the Play Age Signals API, which lets parents share their child's age range (e.g., 16-17) with apps via the Family Link app. The API is privacy-preserving and never shares ages by default. It will roll out to Australia and Canada by mid-August, with a full global rollout later this year. Developers can use the signal to tailor content without enforcing one-size-fits-all rules. The API builds on existing safety tools like Restrict Minor Access and Family Link controls.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are deeply skeptical, viewing the API as a step toward mandatory age verification and surveillance. Many argue the real motive is control, not safety, and that once the infrastructure is in place, it can be easily expanded. Several note the API already supports forced government ID verification. A few defend the idea, saying age checks are inevitable for legal compliance, but pushback is strong. The dominant sentiment is that this erodes privacy and freedom under the guise of protection.