Google Rejects Meta’s App Store Age Verification Proposal

Author: admin | 16 Jun 2025

Tech giant Google has criticized Meta’s proposal to implement age verification through app stores, calling it “ineffective” and risky for children’s safety. The idea, pitched by Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, suggests verifying user age via operating systems’ built-in app stores.

Age-restricted content remains a heated issue across Europe. Countries such as France are demanding strict age checks on pornography websites. The US state government is growing support for preventing children under the age of 15 from using social media. This is to reduce internet addiction, along with cyberbullying, and hate spread on the Internet.

Google stated that enforcing age checks on the app store would unnecessarily burden developers. However, it will also compromise privacy, even for harmless apps like flashlights. Such a sweeping approach, it warned, might increase risk rather than reduce it. Google warned that such a model would expose children to additional risks, and it would contradict the very goal of user safety.

Platforms vs. Operating Systems: The Ongoing Debate Over Age Verification Responsibilities

In addition, Google emphasized that this solution would not cover content accessed through desktops or shared devices because it would create loopholes in protection. Apple has echoed the same concerns and has stated that age verification should be done at the app or site rather than using the operating system.

Meta continues to push for regulatory reform, promoting OS-level age verification despite the EU’s Digital Services Act placing the responsibility on platforms.

Facia’s biometric age verification and liveness detection provide a privacy-first, platform-ready solution, empowering apps to protect children without compromising sensitive data or user freedom.