• US State Colorado Wants Operating Systems (Including Linux) to Tell Every App How Old You Are Age verification onlineis regrettably becoming the norm. • Platforms are increasingly asking users to prove their age before accessing certain content or services. • That usually means handing over personal data, sometimes even biometric data, to a third-party provider,then hoping they do not sell it, suffer a breach,or both. • state ofColoradois mulling over a bill to implement age reporting for installing apps on computers and mobile devices. • Age Attestation, What? • SenatorMatt Balland RepresentativeAmy Paschalpresented this bill,Age Attestation on Computing Devices(SB26-051), to the Colorado Senate, where it was assigned to theBusiness, Labor, and Technology Committee.

Article Summaries:

  • Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would require operating‑system providers (Microsoft, Google, Apple, Canonical) to prompt users to enter a birth date or age during device account setup. The entered data would be converted into a non‑personal “age signal” (under 13, 13‑<16, 16‑<18, 18+) that apps could query via an API. The bill limits data sharing to the minimum necessary and prohibits passing the signal to third parties. Violations could trigger fines up to $7,500 per minor, but enforcement would depend on the state Attorney General’s decision. Critics note the bill lacks a verification mechanism and could be ineffective without parental oversight. If passed, it would take effect Jan 1, 2028, with a possible referendum in Nov 2026.
  • Age verification online is regrettably becoming the norm. Platforms are increasingly asking users to prove their age before accessing certain content or services. That usually means handing over personal data, sometimes even biometric data, to a third-party provider, then hoping they do not sell it, suffer a breach, or both. Now, the U.S. state of Colorado is mulling over a bill to implement age reporting for installing apps on computers and mobile devices. Age Attestation, What? Senator Matt Ball and Representative Amy Paschal presented this bill, Age Attestation on Computing Devices (SB26-05

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