Google Company announced about the intention to use machine learning technology to determine the age of its users. Developers are already testing this model in the US and plan to gradually expand its implementation in other countries.
A machine learning algorithm will analyze existing user data, including search history, YouTube viewing habits, and account age, to determine whether a user is a minor. If the system identifies the user as such, they will be sent a notification asking for age verification. This can be done with a selfie, a credit card or an official document.
The new technology will work in conjunction with Google’s existing security measures to protect minors. For such accounts, the SafeSearch filter is automatically activated, which blocks adult content from the search results, and also restricts access to YouTube videos that are not intended for persons under 18 years of age.
Google’s decision to determine the age was adopted against the background of increasing attention to the safety of children on the Internet in the United States. Lawmakers are currently debating a number of initiatives, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), COPPA 2.0, and the Children’s Social Media Protection Act (KOSMA). The latter prohibits access to social networks for children under the age of 13 and obliges platforms to use algorithms to estimate the age of users.
It will be recalled that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has also started using artificial intelligence to detect “signals” that may indicate that the user is under 18 years of age.
