YouTube users sign petition against AI age verification

YouTube is introducing AI to determine the age of users to limit children's access to inappropriate content. Some users are concerned that this will violate their privacy. The technology analyzes behavior on the platform and account activity, ignoring the specified date of birth. The system is currently being tested in the US, but will soon be scaled up.

If the AI ​​decides that the user is underage, restrictions will be applied to their account: for example, violent or sexually suggestive content will be blocked. Adults who are mistakenly filtered will have to confirm their age with an ID or a selfie. It is the need to transmit personal data that raises the greatest concerns.

The new system only works for registered users, so children will be able to bypass restrictions by accessing YouTube without an account. However, without authorization, access to age-appropriate content will be blocked.

The move is part of a tightening of the platform's policies following criticism that teenagers easily bypass age restrictions by providing false dates of birth. Parents and lawmakers have said social media is damaging to children's mental health.

Thousands of users are speaking out against the innovation. A petition on Change.org has already collected 50,000 signatures. People hope that the mass protest will stop the implementation of the system, fearing the loss of anonymity and the complication of access to content.