Google's "privacy-preserving" age verification system is coming to the Play Store

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Google Play即将上线一套“隐私优先”的年龄验证系统，最大的亮点是无需身份证或自拍，就能让应用确认用户年龄，从而避免隐私泄露风险。这套系统依托于谷歌已有的Family Link家长控制功能。简单来说，家长可以在孩子的管理账户里预设一个年龄范围，比如“16-17岁”，那么孩子访问Google Play应用时，相关应用就会自动调整内容，只显示适合该年龄段的体验。这个范围还会随着孩子长大动态更新，比如13岁的孩子可能几年内都处于同一内容层级。最重要的是，家长完全自愿选择是否开启这项功能，也随时可以关闭，并非强制要求。对于普通人来说，这意味着在数字世界里，家长既能多一层保护网，又不必牺牲孩子的隐私数据，实现更精细化的内容管理。

Governments around the world are suddenly very keen on online age verification requirements. In some places, this takes the form of ID requirements to access adult content, but several US states have also focused on app stores. With these laws now going into effect, Google has announced an expansion of its beta Play Age Signals API, which it claims will allow developers to confirm user ages without impinging on privacy. Google's system doesn't require an ID or selfie verification—it's connected to the company's existing Family Link app. The idea is that parents will set age ranges for their kids' managed accounts. For example, you might set a range like 16–17, allowing apps to tailor experiences and content for teenagers. Google notes that the ranges are dynamic and may change as young users get older. So a kid who's 13 may be in the same app content bracket for a few years before hitting the next level. Parents have the option to set and share these ranges if they want that additional level of control over what their children can access in Google Play. However, it's not mandatory for child accounts—it's fully opt-in and can be turned off at any time.Read full article Comments