The push for stronger age verification requirements on digital platforms is gaining momentum across the United States, following similar initiatives in countries like Australia and Greece, where comprehensive frameworks for protecting minors online have already been implemented.
Several U.S. states are leading legislative efforts to regulate age verification on digital platforms. In South Carolina, legislators have prefiled bill HB 3405, which would mandate app store providers to verify user ages. Similar legislation is being drafted in Utah, where Senator Todd Weiler is spearheading efforts to place age verification responsibilities on app store operators.
Wyoming has taken a different approach with HB 43, focusing on websites rather than app stores. The proposed legislation would require websites containing material deemed harmful to children to implement age verification systems before allowing access. Meanwhile, South Dakota’s legislative study committee has unanimously approved the development of app store age verification proposals.
“I look at it similar to a child buying cigarettes. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company isn’t involved in the transaction when a minor tries to buy a pack of cigarettes. But a convenience store that sells the company’s cigarettes is,” said Wyoming Representative Martha Lawley (R), who prefiled HB 43. “Under Guffey’s bill, app stores would fulfill the same function with respect to the apps needed to access social media and other online platforms.”
The state initiatives reflect broader developments in digital identity verification, as demonstrated by Maryland’s recent launch of a mobile ID verification app specifically designed for business age checks. The technology landscape is also evolving, with companies like Google developing AI-powered age estimation tools that have received regulatory approval in some jurisdictions.
The implementation and enforcement approaches vary across jurisdictions, with some placing the verification burden on app stores like Apple and Google, while others target individual websites and platforms. The efforts mirror international developments, such as the UK’s comprehensive online safety measures that emphasize robust age verification systems to protect young users.
Sources: LexisNexis State Net, Biometric Update
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