EU Age Verification App to Ban Android Apps Not Licensed by Google

The EU has been on a crackdown for the protection of minors from social media and unauthorized content. The Union was previously testing an age verification app that would mandate users to verify their age and confirm whether they’re 18 or older before accessing social media apps or any other type of content rated for adults. It is now planning to add an Android app integrity check into the system.

The EU might add an extra layer of protection on Age Verification

After releasing the blueprint of its age verification app, the EU is now planning to integrate the Android app authentication check into the system. As per a Reddit forum, the EU is developing a white-label app to perform verification of the app’s integrity. This is being done to make sure that the app being used for the age verification service is “genuine”.

Now, since the new system of the EU’s age verification relies on the Google Play Integrity for the Android app verification, the app must be licensed by Google. It should be downloaded from the Play Store, and most importantly, all the device security checks must be cleared.

Though this seems like a step in the right direction, it is going to be concerning for custom ROM users. Since Play Integrity is mandatory, the user will be tied to using only the apps installed from the Play Store. This also means that no sideloaded or compiled application is going to pass the check.

Android app verification service to rely on Google Play Integrity

The Android app integrity check, which is part of the EU’s age verification system, is still under planning. If there are no changes in the final version, it is going to restrict the users from installing third-party apps. The EU has, however, assured that the user will have complete control over their data. The app will not monitor the usage or take any type of data input once the verification is completed.