Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Google Starts Rolling Out Age Checks on Play Store for Mature Apps

The checks reflect Google’s response to new age‑assurance laws and raise fresh questions about privacy and access.

Overview

  • Users report new prompts that require proving they are 18 or older before downloading certain apps from the Play Store.
  • Until verification is completed, many apps cannot be downloaded, according to people who have encountered the pop‑up.
  • Google says verification can be done via government ID, a selfie age estimate by a partner, a credit card, an email check, or the VerifyMy service.
  • The company says it is building APIs and tools to implement age verification with privacy in mind, citing compliance with state and international requirements.
  • Rollout scope and enforcement details remain unclear, and AI‑based estimates may be wrong and require additional documentation to resolve.