The prompt for age verification is due to Google's new system, which uses AI to estimate users' ages to comply with a global push for online age-verification laws. This system may flag adult users as minors, restricting access to certain content until their age is confirmed with a government ID, credit card, or a selfie.

Lots of countries and even states in the USA are forcing "age verification" laws before displaying certain content. The OP in that link doesn't say what state they were in or what article they were trying to read, but I'm wondering if their complaint is more with their state government passing draconian laws rather that Google on this one.

Far as I know, none of those laws are currently in effect in the USA.

21 of the 50 states now have age verification laws.