California mandates age verification for device operating systems

The Digital Age Assurance Act requires Apple, Google, and other OS providers to prompt users for their date of birth upon device initialization. For existing devices, companies have until July 1, 2027, to implement a compliant age-entry mechanism. Failure to adhere to these standards carries steep penalties: $2,500 per child for negligent violations and up to $7,500 for intentional non-compliance, though the law provides a safe harbor for companies that demonstrate a good-faith effort to manage erroneous age signals.

Governor Newsom framed the measure as a necessary guardrail against the harms of unregulated technology, linking it to broader initiatives like social media warning labels. While the legislation follows similar moves in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana, it notably avoids mandates for government ID uploads or parental consent for individual app downloads. This pragmatic approach secured support from Meta and Google, with Google executive Kareem Ghanem labeling the act a balanced, ecosystem-wide solution. However, opposition persists from the Motion Picture Association, which fears the rules could disrupt streaming service profiles, and Apple has notably declined to endorse the bill. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the measure's primary architect, intends to address these remaining industry technical concerns in future legislative sessions.