Google expands Play Signal API for age assurance to developers worldwide
Original: Google brings its age-assurance technology to Android developers worldwide
Why This Matters
Global age-assurance regulation is accelerating, pushing both major app stores to build compliant developer infrastructure.
Google announced on July 29, 2026, that its Play Signal API — an age-assurance tool for Android — will expand from Brazil to Australia and Canada by mid-August, then globally by end of 2026, enabling developers to identify younger users without accessing personal data.
Google is rolling out its Play Signal API worldwide, bringing age-assurance capabilities to Android developers globally by the end of 2026. Currently available in Brazil, the API will first expand to Australia and Canada by mid-August before reaching all markets. The tool allows developers to obtain a user's age range without accessing personal data such as date of birth. Instead, parents can share their child's age range directly with apps through Google's Family Link parental controls dashboard. Adults may also voluntarily share their age when prompted. Age ranges are not shared by default — parents must opt in. Google centralizes controls in Family Link, so parents do not need to manage sharing on an app-by-app basis. The expansion mirrors Apple's global rollout of its own age-verification tools in February 2026, both driven by increasing regulatory pressure from lawmakers worldwide seeking stronger protections for minors online. The Play Signal API joins existing Google Play safety tools, including app-discovery restrictions for children and PIN-based content filters.