Google forced new restrictions onto Android. Big government wants even more.

The useful part

Age verification legislation has been a hot topic lately, with many states and even federal lawmakers eyeing restrictions that would force users to turn over their IDs to access their smart devices. In an attempt to beat big government to the punch, Google just announced new age limits coming to Android. Despite the hype, the measure doesn't have the protective powers its advocates claim.

How it works

• Age verification is coming to Android In late July, Google announced that it is rolling out a way to provide "age-appropriate experiences" for Android users through the Google Play Age Signals API.
• The worst news is, it won't satisfy big government, which will likely push for tighter restrictions still.
• This isn't a complete solution for people hoping their digital rights won't be arbitrarily locked.
• The feature empowers app developers to add age-based restrictions to their applications.
• Then parents can go into their child's phone and mark their child's age in the device.

What to take from it

If the child is a minor, apps that support the API will enable content restrictions accordingly. Instead, it relies on parental judgement, putting the power in parents' hands to decide when to restrict their children's devices instead of relying on government mandates and overreach.