Colorado moves age checks from websites to operating systems
4 days ago
- #child-safety
- #age-verification
- #legislation
- Colorado lawmakers are revisiting online age verification, focusing on how to protect children online effectively.
- Senate Bill 26-051 shifts responsibility for age verification from individual websites to operating system providers and app stores.
- The bill requires operating system providers to collect age information and make it available to app developers via an API.
- Previous attempts at age verification in Colorado, like SB 25-201 and SB 25-086, faced constitutional and feasibility challenges.
- SB 26-051 targets centralized mobile ecosystems, avoiding the complexities of regulating the open web directly.
- Critics argue the bill may offer the appearance of safety without comprehensively restricting minors' access to harmful content.
- The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Business, Labor, and Technology.
- Age verification mandates face legal scrutiny over constitutional rights, privacy, and technical feasibility.
- Alternative approaches include universal identity verification for internet access or relying on parental control tools.
- The political momentum for child online safety legislation remains strong despite past failures.