A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026 requires operating system providers to have users indicate their age and date of birth. Operating system providers must then classify this into age bracket data and provide a signal to developers, browser providers, or website operators upon request. This bill aims to ensure that digital services can verify a user's age without collecting excessive personal information. It includes specific requirements for linking children's accounts to parents or legal guardians. Additionally, it prohibits targeted advertising to children and the monetization of their data.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +9
Would children be better off under this?
The bill provides strong protections against targeted advertising and the sale of children's personal data.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates data minimization and utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to protect user identity during age verification.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects users from targeted advertising and unauthorized data monetization of their personal information.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Privacy Protection via Age Brackets: Operating system providers must classify information into age bracket data, which allows users to demonstrate their age range without revealing exact dates of birth or other personal details (Section 2, Section 3).
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Enhanced Security through Digital Credentials: The bill allows for the use of verifiable credentials or zero-knowledge proofs, which are methods to demonstrate age while disclosing no other information about the user (Section 2, Section 3).
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Parental Oversight: For users identified as children, the bill requires that they link their account to the account of a parent or legal guardian (Section 3).
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Protection from Targeted Advertising: It is unlawful for any person to engage in targeted advertising to a user that they know or should reasonably know is a child (Section 7).
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Prevention of Data Monetization for Children: The bill makes it unlawful to sell, license, rent, or otherwise make available the personal data of a user known to be a child to a data broker (Section 7).
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Data Minimization Requirements: Entities are prohibited from collecting more data than is necessary to generate age signals or perform basic functions, and they cannot use age bracket data for profiling or targeted advertising (Section 6).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Account Creation Burdens: Operating system providers are required to have users establish accounts through a process that requires the indication of date of birth and age (Section 3).
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Mandatory Account Linking: If the information indicates a user is a child, the provider must require that the child link their account to a parent or legal guardian (Section 3).
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Risk of Incorrect Age Information: Developers or website operators may receive clear and convincing information that a user's age is different than the signal provided, necessitating a verification and update process (Section 3, Section 4).
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Potential for Technical Errors: Operating system providers are granted a safe harbor from liability if technical errors or internet outages prevent them from providing the required age signal (Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides strong protections against targeted advertising and the sale of children's personal data. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill's privacy protections benefit all digital users regardless of income level. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides secure, privacy-preserving digital credentials for all users. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill enhances digital privacy protections that benefit all age groups using covered devices.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates data minimization and utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to protect user identity during age verification.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects users from targeted advertising and unauthorized data monetization of their personal information.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill grants the Federal Trade Commission expanded enforcement powers regarding digital age assurance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill requires children to link their accounts to a parent or legal guardian, increasing digital parental oversight.
- 7/22/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California