YouTube began rolling out an 'age-estimation model' in the U.S. that uses AI to restrict access to users determined to be under 18 years old.

Critics have raised concerns about privacy as well as access to the platform for users falsely flagged as underage.

YouTube's AI age verification could significantly expand protections for teens, aligning the platform with mounting regulatory pressure. But the flip side is a new privacy burden on adults who are misclassified and asked to hand over sensitive data to prove their age.