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Oh No! Now A Federal Bill Wants OS-Level Age Verification for Everyone in the USA (itsfoss.com)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by pglpm@lemmy.ca to c/linux@programming.dev

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From the press release [my emphasis]:

Require operating system developers like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages when setting up a new device, rather than relying on self-reported ages.

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/25834609

The U.S. has been quietly building up a set of state-level laws that push operating system providers into the age verification plague.

California's AB 1043, signed in October 2025, requires OS providers to collect age data at account setup and pipe it to apps through a real-time API. It kicks in on January 1, 2027.

Colorado is working on something nearly identical. SB26-051 (which we covered when it was still a proposal) passed the state Senate 28-7 on March 3, 2026, and is now waiting on a House vote to become law there too.

However, these are just state-level laws. A new federal bill, H.R.8250, introduced on April 13, 2026, by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, with Rep. Elise M. Stefanik signing on as cosponsor, has us intrigued.

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[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 days ago (2 children)

What is to stop everyone from lying? I would enter 1/1/1900 if ever forced to.

[–] pglpm@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The crucial point in this new press release is the requirement for "operating system developers like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages when setting up a new device, rather than relying on self-reported ages."

[–] balsoft@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

I hope they meant "verify user age by entering it at account setup" instead of "the user reports their age when they open a website", like the california law. Still stupid to write it like this, but at least a little bit less bad.

[–] GlenRambo@jlai.lu 2 points 4 days ago

That's not "verified" you'd need to upload some sort of government ID like you need to for porn inant western countries now.

While for porn you can just use a VPN, if this bill requires ot at device level it will be harder to get around.