California’s New Law Requires Age Verification for Operating Systems
California has passed a new law requiring every operating system to implement age verification during account setup. The Digital Age Assurance Act, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025, will take effect on January 1, 2027.
How the Law Works
Under this law, operating systems must ask for a date of birth or age when someone creates an account on a device. The system then stores that information and assigns the user to one of four age brackets: under 13, 13 to under 16, 16 to under 18, or 18 and older.
Meanwhile, lawmakers argue that the rule could make the web safer for children, while privacy advocates warn that OS-level age flags normalize user-level tracking.
Impact on App Developers
App developers also face new compliance risks in California, because regulators can punish them if they ignore age data or handle minors’ profiles incorrectly.
For example, Australia and the UK have implemented similar laws, but not at the OS level. Instead, they focus on apps and websites, requiring them to verify age using more reliable methods than self-reported birthdates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, California’s new law requires operating systems to implement age verification during account setup. While lawmakers believe this will make the web safer for children, privacy advocates warn about the potential risks of normalizing user-level tracking.
Therefore, it is essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of this law and consider its potential impact on users and app developers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Digital Age Assurance Act?
- How does the law affect operating systems?
- What are the age brackets used by the law?
- How does the law impact app developers?
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the law?
