US and UK online age verification regulation

Efforts to regulate internet access for minors through age verification laws are expanding in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

In the United States, advocacy groups are working with lawmakers to implement age verification in 21 states, targeting social media and adult content platforms. These measures often require government-issued IDs or third-party services. At the federal level, the Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026 has been introduced in the Senate, proposing age checks integrated into device operating systems. Concerns regarding these developments include potential infringements on free speech, privacy risks related to digital ID systems, and the accuracy of AI-based verification.

In the United Kingdom, the Online Safety Act has already seen implementation, utilizing credit card and facial recognition methods. While these regulations reduced daily visitors to major adult sites by approximately one-third, they have triggered a ‘balloon effect.’ Reports indicate that users are increasingly bypassing restrictions via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Ofcom has noted that while some adolescents are blocked, others successfully access unverified and potentially malicious websites, prompting coordination with search engine providers to address these loopholes.