Colorado Lawmakers Push for Age Verification at the Operating System Level
a month ago
- #privacy-debate
- #tech-regulation
- #age-verification
- A proposed Colorado bill, SB26-051, would require operating systems to register the owner's age and share an 'age bracket' with third-party apps via an API for adult content verification.
- The bill aims to centralize age checks at the OS level to avoid repetitive app-level verifications, reduce privacy risks from ID scanning, and prevent kids from downloading adult-oriented apps.
- Critics highlight flaws, such as easy bypassing due to no mandatory state ID check, exclusion of websites, and the risk of misidentifying users if someone else uses the device.
- Penalties include civil fines up to $2,500 per minor for negligent violations and $7,500 for intentional ones, with developers allowed to override OS data if they have convincing evidence of a different age.
- Supporters like Pornhub advocate device-level checks for efficiency and privacy, while opponents criticize it as overreach and potential mass surveillance.