Google’s ambitious AI age verification isn’t contained to YouTube. It appears to be making its way to Google Search as well.
For those unaware, Google began rolling out its controversial AI age verification system to YouTube yesterday in a bid to make the internet a safer place for young individuals. The tool determines whether a user is underage or not based on their activity and the content they consume. It, however, can falsely flag adults as being underage too, with said users then being forced to prove their age by uploading a government ID, credit card or a selfie.
Users falsely flagged, of course, are unhappy with being forced to hand over sensitive data, and that frustration might soon boil over.
Yesterday marked the first day that a similar age verification pop-up was observed directly within Google Search. Highlighted by user bunihe on the r/YouTube subreddit (via TechIssuesToday), the pop-up explicitly noted that some of their account settings were changed because their age couldn’t be verified.
We changed some of your account settings because we couldn’t confirm if you’re an adult. Check if your new settings are right for you.
Flagged once, flagged everywhere?
Reportedly, the user received the prompt on Search after they had already encountered an age verification request on YouTube earlier the same day. This might suggest that once Google’s AI flags one of your accounts as being underage, it will affect all other Google services tied to that account. “Was watching some TechLinked earlier today when the age verification popped up on my phone, initially I didn’t think too much about it cuz I thought “It is just YouTube”. Apparently it affects my Google search experience too,” wrote the user.
Although the move is disruptive for users on YouTube, its scope isn’t immediately clear in Search. It could potentially force SafeSearch for all queries, disable age-sensitive ad categories, block specific keywords, restrict specific website categories, and more.
AI-based age verification is currently limited to the US, but it is expected to be rolled out to more countries and regions in the near future. We’ll have more to share as additional reports of its impact on Search emerge.