Apple is rolling out new global age-verification tools to comply with tightening child safety laws, introducing stricter app download controls and privacy-preserving APIs for developers.
Apple is expanding its child safety framework with a new set of age-verification tools designed to meet a growing web of child protection laws worldwide.
The company will now block the download of apps rated 18+ in countries such as Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, while introducing privacy-friendly systems that help developers comply with local regulations, without exposing users’ personal data.
The changes form part of Apple’s new “age assurance” strategy, which includes updates to its Declared Age Range API, now available in beta for developers. This update allows apps to identify whether a user is a minor or an adult, while ensuring sensitive information like date of birth remains private.
Stricter age checks across regions
Starting this week, users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore will be required to confirm they are over 18 before downloading age-restricted content. Apple says the App Store will handle this verification automatically, although developers may still have to meet country-specific compliance obligations.
The new rules follow a series of global moves to regulate how tech companies handle minors online. Governments in multiple regions have implemented laws to limit children’s access to apps that include social networking, explicit content, or gambling elements.
In Brazil, for example, developers can use the Declared Age Range API to determine a user’s age category, if the user or their guardian consents. Apps containing loot boxes, a gambling-style feature allowing players to pay for random in-game rewards, will also be reclassified to 18+ in the country, reflecting rising concerns about exposure to gambling mechanisms.
Meanwhile, users in Utah and Louisiana in the United States will soon see similar functionality, as Apple expands compliance with American state-level regulations aimed at online child protection. The company previously rolled out partial measures in Texas, although its implementation there was delayed after the local law was challenged in court.
In a blog post announcing the changes, Apple said it had also enhanced its broader compliance toolkit for developers.
“New signals are now available through the Declared Age Range API, including whether age-related regulatory requirements apply to the user and if the user is required to share their age range,” the company wrote. “The API will also let you know if you need to get a parent or guardian’s permission for significant app updates for a child.”
The system is designed to strike a balance between regulation and privacy, ensuring developers can meet their legal obligations without collecting unnecessary user data.
Last year, Apple also introduced more granular age brackets and additional review questions for developers submitting apps to the App Store.
While the latest update strengthens compliance for developers, it also underscores the increasing pressure on tech companies to protect young users from harmful content and online risks.
With global regulators turning up the heat, Apple’s move signals a new phase in the industry’s approach to digital child safety, one where privacy, compliance, and accountability must coexist.
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