Waze states that its service is not for children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU), and the company says it does not knowingly collect personal data from children under these ages without parental consent.
This analysis describes what Waze's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The provision establishes minimum age thresholds consistent with COPPA (US) and GDPR Article 8 (EU), but relies on user self-representation rather than active age verification, which may be insufficient to satisfy regulatory requirements in some jurisdictions.
Interpretive note: The adequacy of self-declaration age gating versus active verification measures is subject to regulatory interpretation under COPPA and GDPR Article 8, and may vary by jurisdiction.
Children under 13 in the US (or under 16 in the EU) are not authorized to use Waze, and parents should be aware that the service relies on self-declaration rather than verified age gates to enforce this restriction.
How other platforms handle this
Our Services are not directed to children under 13. If you learn that anyone younger than 13 has unlawfully provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@medium.com.
The Service is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal information without your cons...
To access and use the Services, you must be at least the age of majority in the state, province, or territory where you live or at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 13, you may not use the Services and you should not be visiting the Sites or using the Services.
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"The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, please do not use the Service. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. In certain jurisdictions, such as the EU, a higher age threshold of 16 may apply.— Excerpt from Waze's Waze Terms of Use
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), enforced by the FTC, which requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13 in the US. GDPR Article 8 sets a default age of digital consent at 16 (with member state option to lower to 13), enforced by national data protection authorities. The provision's acknowledgment of a 16-year threshold for certain jurisdictions reflects GDPR Article 8 compliance awareness. The UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) may impose additional design obligations for services accessible to minors. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The provision relies on a declaration without specifying technical age verification controls, which may be insufficient under COPPA's verifiable parental consent standard if Waze is found to have actual knowledge of underage users. UK ICO enforcement of the Children's Code has increased scrutiny of self-declaration age gates. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA member states have varying age-of-consent thresholds under GDPR Article 8 (ranging from 13 to 16). California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AADC) imposes additional obligations for services likely to be accessed by minors, including default privacy settings protective of children. Illinois and other states may have additional child privacy requirements. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations deploying Waze in educational or youth-serving contexts should evaluate whether Waze's age restriction implementation is compatible with applicable child privacy obligations (COPPA, FERPA, GDPR Article 8) and whether supplemental controls are required. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should assess whether Waze's onboarding flows implement sufficient age-gating mechanisms to satisfy COPPA verifiable parental consent requirements and GDPR Article 8 obligations. The adequacy of self-declaration as an age verification method should be evaluated against current regulatory guidance from the FTC and relevant EU data protection authorities.
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The provision establishes minimum age thresholds consistent with COPPA (US) and GDPR Article 8 (EU), but relies on user self-representation rather than active age verification, which may be insufficient to satisfy regulatory requirements in some jurisdictions.
Children under 13 in the US (or under 16 in the EU) are not authorized to use Waze, and parents should be aware that the service relies on self-declaration rather than verified age gates to enforce this restriction.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 2 platforms. See the full comparison.
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