Google to deploy AI in Canada to detect minors — Anadolu Agency
Google will begin deploying machine-learning systems in Canada to identify users under the age of 18 and automatically apply youth privacy protection settings. Anadolu Agency reports, citing the company’s official blog.
Account data analysis
Google Canada Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Jeanette Patell said the system will assess a user’s age based on existing account signals. These include Google search history and YouTube viewing history. According to her, the algorithms will not collect new data for this purpose.
Patell also noted that responsibility for determining users’ ages should lie with the owners of each service — developers, publishers and app creators — as they know their users and services best.
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Protective settings
If the system identifies a user as a minor, the “Timeline” feature in Google Maps and personalized advertising will be automatically disabled for their account. Downloads of apps with adult ratings on Google Play will also be restricted, while YouTube will send automatic reminders to take breaks.
Users whom the system incorrectly classifies as minors will be able to appeal the decision by submitting a selfie or a government-issued photo ID. Google said the approach is intended to minimize the amount of data collected and avoid unnecessary sharing of detailed user information with apps and websites.
The rollout comes after Meta expanded automated mechanisms for moving Canadian teenagers to restricted settings. Canadian lawmakers are also considering Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, which provides for restrictions on accounts of people under 16 if platforms fail to ensure sufficient safety measures.
