Online age verification laws expand across 21 U.S. states

Efforts to implement online age verification laws are expanding across the United States, driven by coordinated advocacy from British organizations. According to a report by Reclaim The Net, these groups are working with U.S. lawmakers to propose legislation in 21 states, targeting social media and adult content platforms. These state-level measures often require the use of government-issued IDs or third-party verification services to confirm a user is over 18.

At the federal level, the Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026 has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, which proposes integrating age checks directly into the operating systems of devices sold in the country.

The Congressional Research Service has highlighted the complexities of this issue, noting that while laws like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) exist, identifying minors remains difficult. Challenges include potential infringements on free speech, privacy concerns regarding national digital ID systems, and the risk of excluding users or driving content providers out of the market. AI-based verification and the use of data brokers also present accuracy and data collection concerns.