California Takes Different Path on Age Verification
California has become the latest state to introduce age verification legislation, but with a significantly different approach than other states and countries, according to reports. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1043 on October 13, requiring operating system providers to implement age verification during device setup without mandating sensitive personal information submission.
The bill defines operating system providers as entities that “develop, license, or control the operating system software on a computer, mobile device, or any other general purpose computing device,” which includes major technology companies like Apple and Google. Sources indicate this represents a fundamental shift from verification methods requiring government IDs or credit card information.
How California’s Approach Differs
Analysts suggest California’s method stands in stark contrast to United Kingdom regulations and other US state laws that require more invasive data collection. According to the report, users would simply enter their birth date during account setup and be assigned to age brackets: under 13, between 13-16, between 16-18, or over 18.
The legislation specifically states that companies should only collect “the minimum amount of information necessary” and prohibits using this information “in an anticompetitive manner.” This limited data collection approach has drawn both praise from privacy advocates and skepticism about effectiveness.
Implementation Timeline and Penalties
The law won’t take effect until January 1, 2027, with companies having until July 1, 2027, to implement the required verification steps, according to the official bill text. Companies that violate the regulations face substantial fines: up to $2,500 per child for negligent violations and up to $7,500 per affected child for intentional violations.
Notably, the bill provides protection for companies when users provide false information, stating they won’t be punished if they’ve made “a good faith effort to comply” with the law. This provision has raised questions about how effective the verification will be at actually preventing minors from accessing inappropriate content.
Industry Reaction and Support
According to Politico coverage, Meta and Google have expressed support for the legislation, while Apple has remained silent. The Motion Picture Association, representing major studios including Warner Bros. and Universal, opposes the law, arguing it would override existing children protection measures for streaming services.
The association has previously targeted virtual private networks in anti-piracy efforts, and analysts suggest their opposition may relate to concerns about how age verification will be implemented across different platforms.
VPN Usage and Circumvention Concerns
Reports indicate interest in VPN services spiked significantly as people sought ways to bypass age verification checks in regions with stricter laws. Unlike some other legislation, California’s bill doesn’t mention VPNs, while an age verification bill in Wisconsin explicitly calls for sites to block VPN traffic.
The UK’s Online Safety Act imposes severe penalties on sites promoting VPN usage to circumvent age checks, with fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million. The Children’s Commissioner in the UK has described VPNs as a “loophole that needs closing” and recommended blocking children from using them entirely.
Broader Context and Future Implications
This development in California comes amid global debates about balancing online safety with privacy rights. Michigan lawmakers have proposed banning VPNs as part of their “Anticorruption of Public Morals Act,” seeking to prohibit the sale and promotion of “circumvention tools.”
Privacy advocates have criticized more invasive age verification methods, with experts warning that collecting highly sensitive personal information represents “a disaster waiting to happen.” Laura Tyrylyte, privacy advocate at NordVPN, championed device-level parental controls as the most effective way to manage children’s internet access.
As technology companies continue developing new security and privacy features, including recent announcements from Apple about new M5-powered devices, the implementation of age verification systems will likely evolve. The approach taken by California could influence future legislation worldwide as lawmakers grapple with protecting minors while respecting privacy rights.
This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.
