Google is expanding its answer to Apple\u2019s age-assurance tools with Wednesday\u2019s news that it will bring its Play Signal API to users worldwide by the end of 2026. The technology, already available in Brazil, allows Android developers to identify their apps\u2019 younger users in order to provide safer, age-appropriate experiences.<\/p>\n
The expansion will initially bring the API to Australia and Canada by mid-August, before rolling out globally to all markets by year-end.<\/p>\n
Its arrival comes as lawmakers and regulators in global markets are increasingly pressuring app stores to provide better protections for minors. Apple, for instance, launched its age-verification tools globally this February to comply with the growing number of age-verification laws.<\/p>\n
Image Credits:Google <\/p>\n
Like Apple, Google\u2019s technology allows developers to obtain a user\u2019s age range without needing to access their personal information, like date of birth. Instead, it enables parents to share their child\u2019s age range directly with apps. It also lets adults share their age when prompted by app developers as well, allowing for customized experiences. <\/p>\n
Parents won\u2019t have to manage sharing this information on an app-by-app basis, either. To make it easier, Google centralizes this sharing by putting the controls for sharing directly inside its parental controls dashboard,<\/p>\n