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.

If the technology incorrectly estimates a user to be under 18, they can verify with a credit card or a government ID. YouTube said it will only allow users who have been verified over 18 to view age-restricted content that may be inappropriate for younger users.

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