GrapheneOS says it won't comply with age verification laws & will stay available worldwide

GrapheneOS has publicly stated that it will not comply with new regulations requiring operating systems to collect user age data during setup. The privacy-focused Android-based operating system made this announcement on social media, addressing laws in Brazil and several US states that impose fines of up to millions of dollars per violation for failing to implement age verification.

While many providers are now mandated to collect a user's age or date of birth and transmit it in real time to app stores and developers, the GrapheneOS team confirmed their approach differs. According to the statement, GrapheneOS will remain usable worldwide without requiring personal information, identification, or creating an account. The team noted that if devices with GrapheneOS cannot be sold in regions with such regulations, they accept these consequences to maintain their high privacy standards.

The announcement comes at a time when Motorola plans to release devices running GrapheneOS. Many users on social media have criticized mandatory operating system-level age verification, calling it unnecessary. This move may be particularly relevant for users who prioritize privacy when choosing a mobile operating system.