Source: The Guardian

The Guardian reports that YouTube, owned by Google, is set to implement a more sophisticated, AI-driven system for age verification to restrict access to mature and age-inappropriate content. This move is part of a broader effort by the tech giant to enhance online safety for younger users and comply with growing regulatory pressure worldwide, such as the UK's Online Safety Act. The new system will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to better estimate a user's age based on various signals, without relying solely on self-declaration.

The technology will analyze factors like the user's viewing history, their interactions on the platform, and information from their linked Google account to determine if they should be prevented from viewing content flagged as suitable for adults only. While Google emphasizes that the system is designed with privacy in mind, the move is likely to spark further debate about the use of AI for age verification. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the data being used to make these age estimations and the potential for errors, highlighting the ongoing tension between protecting minors and ensuring user privacy online.