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Google working to navigate Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act w/ new kid-focused features

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According to a report from The Information, Google is working on new features that would help it better cater to children by legally allowing them to use its services. The report notes that Google currently requires users to share their age when signing up for its services on desktop, but that it’s considering also bringing that requirement to Android in addition to other kid-focused features.

Google has been working to overhaul its Web services so it can legally allow children to use them, as it becomes more willing to tolerate hairy legal requirements in exchange for growth.

Those “hairy legal requirements” are likely referring to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection act, which requires users under 13 to get parental consent when using online services.

Other features mentioned in the full report, which details how the new features might help Google navigate laws of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, include a dashboard for parents to monitor web activity and the previously reported kid-friendly version of YouTube.

You can read the full report (behind a paywall) here.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s weekly Logic Pros series and makes music as one half of Toronto-based Makamachine.