DexertoYouTube’s new AI-powered age estimation system is sparking backlash among US users who say the platform is unfairly restricting content and demanding invasive personal data.
The tool, which rolled out in the US on August 13, uses AI to decide if a user is under 18, even if their Google account says otherwise. It analyzes account age, viewing history, search terms, and video categories to make the call.
Those flagged as underage will see restricted content, have wellbeing tools enabled, lose personalized ads, and be shielded from so-called “problematic” videos. The only way to appeal? Hand over a government ID, selfie, or credit card for verification. This has privacy experts concerned, calling the whole process “creepy.”
US YouTube viewers revolt over AI age estimation system
While the feature has been active in other countries, US users are pushing back hard. A Change.org petition launched by Gerfdas Gaming, a gaming lore channel, has already attracted over 72,000 signatures. The creator warns the system risks locking out legitimate adult users, especially those with hobbies perceived as “childish,” and normalizing intrusive AI monitoring.
“This system analyzes your entire watch history and behavior… If the system thinks you’re underage, you’ll be locked out of content unless you upload your government-issued ID, putting your personal information at serious risk,” the petition reads.
“Once these systems are normalized, they rarely go away, they expand…This isn’t just about age restriction. It’s about mass surveillance and data control.”
Many signees say their livelihoods or favorite channels could be affected. One autistic adult wrote: “I have special interests many would perceive as childish. This age verification thing would just make things worse.” Others slammed the idea of “AI deciding who is an adult,” calling it “bull” and refusing to hand over sensitive documents to a “giant tech group.”
Some are hitting YouTube financially, canceling Premium subscriptions and encouraging others to use browsers like Brave to bypass ads. On Reddit, one user’s cancellation post gained traction as more viewers vowed to follow suit, though many were convinced it was a drop in the bucket and wouldn’t be enough to cause change.
Privacy advocates remain skeptical of YouTube’s reassurances. The company has only said it won’t use ID or payment card data for ads, leaving critics convinced it could be stored for “other purposes.”
With petitions growing and Premium cancellations mounting, YouTube may soon face a bigger fight than it expected, not just over privacy, but over who gets to decide if you’re an adult.
