- Google said it will begin testing a machine learning-powered age estimation model to help determine if a user is under the age of 18. The automation feature will be used across Google products, including YouTube.
- The tech giant’s move using artificial intelligence to determine age comes as lawmakers pressure online platforms to create better safety features for children.
- Google plans to roll out the AI-based age estimates feature later this year.
Full Story
Google plans to start testing artificial intelligence to determine whether users are the appropriate age to use its products. The company announced the new AI system in a blog post focused on “new digital protections for kids, teens and parents,” saying it will provide “more age-appropriate experiences” for young users.
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Left 50%
Center 33%
Right 17%
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The automation feature will be used across Google products, including YouTube.
Many online age verification services only have users input their birth date in order to see content that is restricted to those 18 years old and older, which has proven to be ineffective in preventing minors from accessing content that’s not for them.
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How will it work?
CNET reported the estimation model will use machine learning to make sense of various data points already associated with the user’s account, such as what they’re searching for, the categories of videos they’ve watched, and how long they’ve had an account.
If the model incorrectly flags an account for being under the age of 18, the user can provide age verification by showing a government-issued ID.
What’s happening with the push to make online platforms safer?
Google’s move using AI to determine age comes as lawmakers pressure online platforms to create better safety features for children.
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Meta rolled out a similar feature that uses AI to determine that someone may be lying about their age in September.
Google said it will roll out the AI-based age estimates feature later this year and to more countries over time.
[Karah Rucker]
GOOGLE PLANS TO START TESTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER USERS ARE THE APPROPRIATE AGE TO USE ITS PRODUCTS.
THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED THE NEW A-I SYSTEM IN A BLOG POST FOCUSED ON “NEW DIGITAL PROTECTIONS FOR KIDS, TEENS AND PARENTS” SAYING IT WILL PROVIDE “MORE AGE-APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCES” FOR YOUNG USERS.
THE AUTOMATION FEATURE WILL BE USED ACROSS GOOGLE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING YOUTUBE.
MANY ONLINE AGE VERIFICATION SERVICES ONLY HAVE USERS INPUT THEIR BIRTH DATE IN ORDER TO SEE AGE-RESTRICTED CONTENT, WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING MINORS FROM ACCESSING STUFF THAT’S NOT FOR THEM.
C-NET REPORTS THE ESTIMATION MODEL WILL USE MACHINE LEARNING TO MAKE SENSE OF VARIOUS DATA POINTS ALREADY ASSOCIATED WITH THE USER’S ACCOUNT, SUCH AS WHAT THEY’RE SEARCH FOR, THE CATEGORIES OF VIDEOS THEY’VE WATCHED AND HOW LONG THEY’VE HAD AN ACCOUNT.
IF THE MODEL INCORRECTLY FLAGS AN ACCOUNT HOLDER FOR BEING UNDER 18, THE USER CAN PROVIDE AGE VERIFICATION BY SHOWING A GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID.
GOOGLE’S MOVE USING A-I TO DETERMINE AGE COMES AS LAWMAKERS PRESSURE ONLINE PLATFORMS TO CREATE BETTER SAFETY FEATURES FOR CHILDREN.
IN SEPTEMBER, META ROLLED OUT SIMILAR FEATURES THAT USES A-I TO DETERMINE THAT SOMEONE MAY BE LYING ABOUT THEIR AGE.
GOOGLE SAYS IT WILL ROLL OUT THE AI-BASED AGE ESTIMATES FEATURE LATER THIS YEAR AND TO MORE COUNTRIES OVER TIME.
FOR SAN, I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 50%
Center 33%
Right 17%
Bias Summary
- Google plans to test a machine learning-based age estimation model in the U.S. this year to better protect young users on its platforms.
- Testing of this age estimation model is set to begin in the U.S. Before expanding to other countries over time, according to Google.
- The age estimation model will help identify users under 18 by analyzing various data points associated with their accounts.
- If the model incorrectly flags an account as under 18, users can provide age verification through various means.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
highlight Google’s initiatives aimed at raising awareness of child safety, utilizing more emotive language regarding AI implications.
Media outlets in the center
emphasize the methods of factual data collection, presenting a more technical perspective without addressing emotional concerns.
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Bias Distribution
15 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
15
Leaning Left
3
Center
2
Leaning Right
1
Last Updated
2 days ago
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