---
title: "California’s Problematic Attempt To Add Age-Verification To Software"
url: https://daily.dev/posts/california-s-problematic-attempt-to-add-age-verification-to-software-nnlkw7iz7
source_url: https://hackaday.com/2026/03/05/californias-problematic-attempt-to-add-age-verification-to-software/
type: article
source: "Hackaday"
published: 2026-03-06T03:25:43.625Z
updated: 2026-03-06T03:26:07.906Z
tags: ["open-source", "privacy"]
reading_time: 3
upvotes: 43
comments: 27
language: en
---

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# California’s Problematic Attempt To Add Age-Verification To Software

**[Hackaday](https://daily.dev/sources/hackaday)** · 3 min read · 43 upvotes · 27 comments

## Summary

California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), signed into law and taking effect January 1, 2027, requires OS providers to implement an age-verification API. The law mandates that users declare their age bracket at account setup, which apps and app stores must then use to gate access. Critics point out major flaws: the self-reported age system is no more reliable than old-school age-dropdown widgets, enforcement is vague, edge cases like shared family accounts are unaddressed, and FOSS developers face disproportionate legal risk. The governor himself expressed hope the bill would be amended. Requiring photo ID would give it real teeth but would conflict with the bill's own privacy-preserving provisions.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://hackaday.com/2026/03/05/californias-problematic-attempt-to-add-age-verification-to-software/>

## Community discussion

Top comments from developers on daily.dev.

**@xxwhiskyjackxx** · 11 upvotes

> I hate this timeline.

**@andradei** · 7 upvotes

> From California? Not surprised.

**@devmandan** · 5 upvotes

> Sounds like we're almost hitting _The Great Filter_ theory.
>
> _"The Great Filter theory, proposed by Robin Hanson, _**_suggests that a monumental, nearly insurmountable barrier exists in the development of life, preventing most civilizations from becoming technologically advanced and observable_**_. This barrier acts as a solution to the _[_Fermi...

**@ezee** · 5 upvotes

> You'd think people might have learned by now that regulators touching technical matters always results in undue burden on normal people for completely ineffective results. See the nightmare that is: cookie consent banners.

**@nuruluin** · 2 upvotes

> "but hooooow can i steal your face to protect the childe hmmmmm how i wonder"

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- [Age Verification: Protection Tool or Surveillance in Disguise?](https://daily.dev/posts/age-verification-protection-tool-or-surveillance-in-disguise--btat0kcty) · It's Foss · 1 upvotes · 0 comments

---

Tags: [#open-source](https://daily.dev/tags/open-source), [#privacy](https://daily.dev/tags/privacy)

[View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/california-s-problematic-attempt-to-add-age-verification-to-software-nnlkw7iz7)