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Meta Expands AI Age Checks to EU and U.S., Scanning Height and Bone Structure

The rollout tests a tech-led alternative to age laws that rely on ID checks.

Overview

  • Meta says the system is now live on Facebook in the United States in May 2026 and is expanding across the 27 EU countries, with Spain and the United Kingdom set for June.
  • The AI estimates a user’s age by reading visual cues in posts, such as height and bone structure, alongside profile context and behavior.
  • The company says this is not facial recognition because it does not identify a specific person in an image.
  • If the system judges a user is likely under 13, Meta can deactivate the account or convert it to child-appropriate settings.
  • When the system flags a teen, the account gets default privacy and mental health safeguards, and Meta will try to block new accounts after a takedown.