Google Brings Age Assurance Tech to UAE, Boosts Online Safety for Young Users

Google has launched an age assurance technology in the UAE to ensure that young users have safe online experiences. The technology uses machine learning to determine whether a user is over or under 18 by looking at various signals associated with their account, such as search history and YouTube watch categories.

For users identified as under 18, Google will provide enhanced protections, including disabling personalized advertising, restricting age-sensitive ad categories, and limiting access to apps restricted to adults. Users incorrectly estimated to be under 18 can correct their age by uploading a photo of their government ID or taking a selfie.

The technology aims to balance the need for adults to access information with the requirement to protect younger users from age-inappropriate content. Google is committed to setting a higher safety standard across its platforms, including providing flexible parental controls and creating dedicated experiences like YouTube Kids and supervised accounts.