Microsoft is working on a new age verification system that will be integrated into Windows 11. This system is designed to help verify a user's age range in a way that protects their privacy. Instead of sharing exact birth dates or ages, the system will group users into categories such as under 10, 10–12, 13–15, 16–17, or at least 18 years old. This approach is part of Microsoft's Digital Safety platform, which focuses on child protection and enforcing age-related restrictions in software. The system uses two new application programming interfaces (APIs) that are part of the Digital Safety initiative. The first API enables an application to check the age range of the Microsoft account currently logged in. The second API lets applications know whether the age verification has been independently confirmed. While Microsoft already has access to users' dates of birth through their accounts, the new APIs will not share this detailed information with apps. Instead, only the age range and verification status will be passed along, with Digital Safety acting as an intermediary to ensure proper verification. For example, an adult-only video game could confirm that a user is 18 or older without knowing their exact age. This same logic can be applied to social media platforms, apps with in-app purchases, or services that require age restrictions. Developers will decide how to use the age range information, such as granting access, hiding certain features, or asking for more verification if needed. Currently, these APIs are not active on existing Windows devices. Microsoft is documenting the APIs but has not yet enabled them, so they return an "unknown" age range and an "unavailable" status. Deployment is expected by the end of the year, though it may initially be limited to specific regions rather than being available globally from the start. The system aims to reduce the amount of personal data shared with applications. For instance, a service that needs to confirm a user is over 18 wouldn't need to ask for their birth date, credit card details, or direct them to a third-party verification service. This approach aligns with privacy principles that prioritize limiting the data collected and shared, a concept supported by the European Union. However, since Microsoft is a private American company, users must trust the company to handle age information responsibly. Some details about how the system will work in regions where Microsoft doesn't currently offer dedicated verification methods remain unclear, raising questions about data handling and storage.