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Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

android-developers.googleblog.com

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Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#391

Post by xg15 »

RandomGerm4n wrote: post #154

I'm fundamentally opposed to age verification because it usually leads to mandatory account creation no matter how privacy friendly the age verification process itself may be. It's already extremely annoying that, for example, on YouTube, you can no longer watch many videos without an account. Furthermore, the whole thing also reinforces monopolies. Once you've verified your age on one platform, the barrier to switch…

I think sites and app developers don't really need external reasons to force account creation, they all seem to want to do it anyway. And at least this API would - in theory - enable age verification without needing an account.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#392

Post by egorfine »

dageshi wrote: post #148

Doesn't seem like most of the people on this thread actually read what they're planning. It seems like a very good solution to me. It gives parents a simple solution to define the age of the phones user and a mechanism to allow apps to get an age range and tailor usage appropriately. It does all this while leaving everyone else undisturbed. Put the age range into http headers and you solve children accessing content…

> It seems like a very good solution to me

Until a KYC verification via Persona is required to prove you are actually of age. Coming in the next Android version.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#393

Post by egorfine »

I hate it so much it makes my blood boil.

The internet as we knew it comes to an end and we are... complicit?

Judging from comments here it seems like some of HN readers do actually unironically take this at face value. Which is weird. Of all people, we should be ones to see what is this going towards.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#394

Post by giantg2 »

wongarsu wrote: post #387
giantg2 wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What might those be? Everything I've seen is ineffective or can be compromised. I think letting parents parent is probably the best option, but will require better/easier/free tools and education to help lock down different categories of harm.

Website generates a random nounce, the government offers to sign the json { over_18: true, nounce: [inserted_here] }. That signing is coupled to you being signed in, or scanning your passport via nfc or whatever That significantly reduces the leaked information: the service doesn't receive any information who you are, and the government doesn't know what service you use. They can collude, but that does not reveal mor…

"They can collude, but that does not reveal more to them than most current age-verification methods."

Or just correlate the IP.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#395

Post by xg15 »

jeroenhd wrote: post #93
random_ind_dude wrote: post #61

I think it's the old that need to be protected more on the Internet since they disproportionately fall prey to online scams. So let's age-gate their access to online services too. If you are old and want to send money to someone, you get age-gating and second-factor authorization from a competent young person. If you want to watch porn online, believe it or not, age-gating and second-factor authorization.

Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to that either. If we're protecting kids, we should also protect the old and feeble. Old people, people with developmental handicaps, you name it: they're being exposed to a world that can and will abuse you if you have any faith in humanity left and don't have the technical skills to identify things like fake domains and scam sites. For some reason we're making sure no 12 year old can…

Waiting for the first 90 year old president...

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#396

Post by lII1lIlI11ll »

kova12 wrote: post #382
jeroenhd wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to that either. If we're protecting kids, we should also protect the old and feeble. Old people, people with developmental handicaps, you name it: they're being exposed to a world that can and will abuse you if you have any faith in humanity left and don't have the technical skills to identify things like fake domains and scam sites. For some reason we're making sure no 12 year old can…

It would be hilarious when some services become unavailable to 55+. The whole age check scam will dissolve in a heartbeat

Not necessary. People who still transfer their life savings to some "I'm with MicroSoft tech support" guy shouldn't be allowed to vote either TBH.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#397

Post by whatsupdog »

sschueller wrote: post #34
xinayder wrote: post #11

Can't we build a gateway in the internet that detects if someone is a influential CEO or something and just bar access to the internet?

If you have more than 100 million in the bank you should be barred from using the internet...

Cool, so no change? Even even a multi-billionaire usually doesn't have a 100 million lying in the bank (unless they sold some asset and are going to buy another soon).

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#398

Post by jolmg »

hamper653 wrote: post #366
izend wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you a parent? I have personally used the parental controls on Android, iOS and ChromeOS and to be honest they are terrible. Issues with syncing changes, the terrible UX for parental access control (iOS...), issues around audit/access logs, issues around prompting the parent for access. I am honestly shocked that Apple known for its polished experience hasn't been forced by angry parents. My daughter's school actu…

Why does your daughter have a Chromebook in the first place?

Schools in some places seem to require them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kpHaYze8kI&t=90

> We are being Forced to Buy Chromebooks [...] The school sent a list of requirements for the specs and functionality

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#399

Post by lII1lIlI11ll »

amazingamazing wrote: post #69
neuroticnews25 wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No one would tolerate “adult” services and goods rendered directly to children without age check I don't think it's fair to say that parents who don't care to use parental control measures already available to them have no tolerance for that.

Parental controls don’t solve all of the issues. The same way telling your kids not to do drugs is not a solution to vaping use.

That is okay. The optimal amount of "issues" is greater than zero.

Re: Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year

#400

Post by pibaker »

afdbcreid wrote: post #377
stvltvs wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The concern isn't that an authoritarian government locks you out of some age-restricted sites, it's that it locks you out of them all.

The government can just arrest you and lock you out of all sites. It's not like they cannot do it today.

You can disable Internet access for millions instantly. You can't arrest millions.
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