Anthropic has begun enforcing an 18+ age restriction on Claude, its consumer AI product, requiring users to verify their age during account setup and when the company detects potential minor activity.
According to Anthropic’s support documentation, the company has deployed safety systems designed to identify when people under 18 may be using Claude. When such signals are detected, accounts will be disabled and users will receive a notification requiring age verification before they can continue.
Users can verify their age through Yoti, an independently audited third-party age verification platform that offers three methods: facial age estimation using a selfie, ID verification by uploading a photo of a passport or driver’s license, or sharing a verified “over 18” attribute from Yoti’s existing Digital ID app if they already have one.
Anthropics emphasizes data privacy in its age verification process. According to the company, Yoti deletes all submitted materials—including selfies, document images, and personal data—immediately after age verification is complete. Anthropic states it never receives the user’s ID or images, only a pass or fail result, and does not process or store any personal data from the verification.
The implementation represents a formalized approach to age gating, moving from voluntary confirmation during signup to active monitoring and enforcement. Accounts flagged for potential minor usage will require users to complete the verification process to regain access.
This policy aligns with increasing regulatory and industry focus on protecting minors from AI systems. Multiple jurisdictions and advocacy groups have raised concerns about children’s exposure to AI chatbots, leading major AI companies to implement age restrictions on consumer-facing products.
Key facts
- Claude is restricted to users 18 and older
- Anthropic uses automated systems to detect accounts with indicators of minor activity
- Age verification is conducted by Yoti, a third-party provider
- Users can verify age via selfie, ID upload, or existing Yoti Digital ID app
- Anthropic does not receive or store personal data or images from the verification process—only pass/fail results