The U.S. state of Colorado is proposing a bill called “Age Attestation on Computing Devices” (SB26-051) to improve online age verification. The bill, which has not yet been passed, requires operating system providers like Microsoft and Google to ask users to specify their birth date or age during device account setup.
The idea behind the bill is to create an “age signal,” a non-personally identifiable data translation of the user’s birthdate or age, that apps can access via an API when a user downloads or launches them. This would help prevent minors from accessing content intended for older users.
However, critics argue that the bill has several flaws. It does not specify how age is actually determined and leaves room for manipulation by dishonest users. Moreover, relying solely on online verification may not be enough to protect young minds, as parents’ or guardians’ oversight remains the most effective way to prevent exposure to harmful content.
Source: https://itsfoss.com/news/colorado-age-attestation-bill