Apple has begun blocking certain app downloads in three countries. Users in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore now face automatic age verification when attempting to download apps rated 18+ from the App Store. This move is part of a broader effort to comply with child safety regulations worldwide.
The process is automatic, with the App Store checking a user's age in the background using their account details before allowing access to mature content. No manual ID upload is required from the user. However, developers still bear their own compliance responsibilities under local laws.
In Brazil, the rules are particularly strict, with apps containing loot boxes now automatically rated 18+. Apple is also expanding its age assurance tools in the United States, with users in Utah and Louisiana soon being affected.
The company is beta testing an updated Declared Age Range API, which provides developers with a user's age bracket without revealing their exact birth date, aiming to balance compliance with privacy. This expansion is part of a wider industry trend, as platforms like ChatGPT and Discord also implement various age verification systems in response to new global regulations.