4/30/26 In comparison to the approach in the USA where there are a patchwork of state-level age verification laws requiring apps and app stores to verify user ages, the European Union mandated last summer that websites hosting adult content verify users’ ages, while leaving the method of verification to service providers.
On that front, the European Commission has endorsed a new open-source age verification app aimed at protecting minors online while preserving user privacy. Built on the EU regulatory foundation of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, the tool allows users to confirm they meet age requirements without revealing personal data such as identity or exact age. Member states can deploy it independently or integrate it into the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallet, with several countries already moving toward adoption.
From a policy and platform perspective, the Commission is signaling that privacy-preserving age verification is now viable at scale, removing a common excuse for inaction by online platforms. The open-source model promotes transparency and broader adoption beyond the EU and reflects a broader push to balance child safety, user privacy, and digital sovereignty—a tension that will increasingly shape global online regulation.
https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/29/eu_adopts_open_source_ageverification/