Apple rolls out age-verification tools worldwide to comply with growing web of child safety laws

Source: TechCrunch

Apple is launching new tools to comply with the growing number of age‑verification laws both in the U.S. and abroad. As part of the changes, Apple will block the downloads of apps rated 18+ in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, while also rolling out other features to comply with laws in Utah and Louisiana in the U.S.

Expanded “Age Assurance” Tools

Apple informed developers that it is expanding its set of age‑assurance tools, including an updated Declared Age Range API now available for beta testing. These tools allow developers to obtain a user’s age range without accessing personal information such as the date of birth. The need for a technical solution arose as more governments have created laws to block or restrict apps—especially social media—that can only be used by adults 18 and up.

Declared Age Range API

• Developers can request a user’s age category if the user (or their parent/guardian) chooses to share it.
• The API provides signals indicating whether age‑related regulatory requirements apply to the user and whether parental permission is required for significant app updates for a child.

“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,” reads the Apple blog post. “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.”

For more details, see Apple’s developer announcement: .

Regional Implementations

Brazil

• Developers can use the Declared Age Range API to obtain the user’s age category.
• Apps containing loot boxes will have their age ratings updated to 18+ to reflect concerns about gambling‑like mechanisms for minors.

Australia, Brazil, and Singapore

• Apple will block users from downloading apps rated 18+ until they confirm they are adults.
• The App Store will perform age confirmation automatically, though developers may still have separate compliance requirements.

U.S. Implementation

• New users in Utah and Louisiana will soon have their age categories shared with developers’ apps through the Declared Age Range API.
• Apple has expanded other tools around age ratings and permissions to meet compliance obligations in these states.

Prior Efforts and Updates

• In October, Apple worked to comply with similar age‑assurance requirements in Texas but paused some plans in December as the state’s law faced legal challenges: .
• Apple updated its age ratings system last year with more granular age ranges and added new questions for developers submitting apps for review: .

For additional context on Apple’s child‑safety initiatives, see the TechCrunch article: .