1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

Dear Members of Congress, I am writing to express strong opposition to YouTube's newly announced initiative that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to determine whether a user is over or under 18 years old. This system, which interprets a variety of user data and behaviors—including search history, videos watched, account longevity, and more—to automatically assign age and enforce "age-appropriate protections," carries serious risks to privacy, digital rights, and sets a concerning precedent for surveillance overreach. Key Concerns: Massive Data Surveillance: YouTube proposes to analyze intimate behavioral data about every user, including children and adults, essentially surveilling individuals' video habits to deduce age without explicit consent or accurate context. This normalizes continuous automated monitoring and profiling of citizens by private corporations. Risk of Misclassification: The company admits the system will inevitably make errors. Users incorrectly flagged as under 18 face unwarranted restrictions until they submit highly sensitive personal documents, such as a government-issued ID or credit card, exposing them to risks of identity theft and raising access barriers, particularly for vulnerable populations that may lack acceptable documentation. Erosion of User Privacy: YouTube's claim to preserve "teen privacy" rings hollow when their system scrutinizes users' every move on the platform. Mandating government ID or credit card verification as the "solution" only further invades privacy and creates a chilling effect for all users. Lack of Democratic Oversight: There has been a notable absence of public consultation or legislative scrutiny on the introduction of such consequential technology, which fundamentally alters the balance between platform safety and individual rights. Slippery Slope to Broader Surveillance: If normalized, AI-driven behavioral profiling could spread to other platforms and contexts, with private companies and governments increasingly empowered to make far-reaching decisions about our rights and access based on opaque algorithms. Request for Legislative Action: I urge Congress to: Investigate and, if necessary, halt the rollout of YouTube's AI age-detection system until independent audits confirm its fairness, effectiveness, and respect for fundamental rights. Demand transparency from Google/YouTube with public release of their AI model evaluation criteria, error rates, appeals processes, and data retention policies. Advance comprehensive national privacy legislation that specifically restrains the use of behavioral profiling for age verification and requires clear opt-in consent for all biometric or behavioral inference systems. Protecting young people online is a worthy goal, but we must reject approaches that trample on everyone’s privacy and establish dangerous surveillance architectures. Congress must act to defend the civil liberties and dignity of all internet users.