California's Digital Age Assurance Act, which was passed last year, will soon require everyone pc and mobile operating system providers asking users for their age when setting up an account and then sending the data to app developers. Although the California law doesn't go into effect until 2027, it will affect Windows, Mac, and Linux PC users across the Golden State equally.
California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025 when it unanimously passed both chambers of the California State Legislature. AB 1043 requires operating system providers to include a real-time application programming interface (API) that categorizes users into one of four age brackets. These brackets are for anyone under 13, 13 to 16, 16 to 18 and anyone 18 or over. The data will then be sent to any developers who request that information from the California-based user when the app is downloaded or launched, which will then be used for content delivery purposes. AB 1043 takes effect statewide on January 1, 2027.
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The new California law will affect anything with an operating system
However age verification measures in games eg Roblox While users are forced to upload facial scans to verify their age, California's upcoming Digital Age Assurance Act will not require such controversial measures. AB 1043 would only require California-based users to enter their date of birth when creating an account with companies like Microsoft, Apple, or Google, based on the operating system they plan to access. The law covers anything that uses an operating system, from PCs to mobile devices and game consoles. However, it does not apply to any broadband ISPs or telecommunications services, and does not allow developers to share user age information with third parties for any purpose other than authentication.
As it stands, AB 1043 would likely require operating systems to add an age verification API via a firmware update. However, Governor Newsom said that, even if AB 1043 passes, amendments will be required for multi-user accounts and streaming services. Newsom cited concerns about game developers and streaming services' user profiles and accounts used across multiple devices. As of this writing, no amendments have been proposed to AB 1043, so the law will remain in effect in its current state.
Along with the snags that multi-user accounts could cause AB 1043, the emergence of Linux as an alternative to Windows presents another problem. Developers who receive this information and do not comply with AB 1043 face fines of between $2,500 and $7,500. Additionally, many Linux operating system distributions, such as Ubuntu, do not have a centralized account infrastructure compared to Windows and macOS. Therefore, Linux OS distros are likely to be found non-compliant by default in California. A disclaimer that the operating system is not intended for use in California may be used under AB 1043, although it remains to be seen what the developers of various Linux distros will do in response to the law.
Age verification is not going away
While AB 1043 does not require California users to provide more than their date of birth, age verification measures from other services are likely to continue to be used. Although Discord was set to launch its global age verification on March 1, its controversial rollout was delayed following Discord user backlash. Although Discord is still set to activate its age verification system in the second half of 2026, the popular voice and text app said it is exploring additional ways to verify a user's age, including credit card information, that does not require a face ID scan.
Given the broad scope of AB 1043, the law also affects SteamOS, which is used by Steam Deck and the upcoming Steam Machine. Although Governor Newsom has proposed some modifications, time will tell what changes will be made to AB 1043 before it takes effect.
Source: Tom's Hardware
