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


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.

The company informed developers on Tuesday that it’s 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 gaining access to the user’s personal information, like their date of birth. The need for a technical solution like this came about as more governments around the world have created laws to block or restrict certain apps like social media that can only be used by adults 18 and up.

In Brazil, for example, developers can use the Declared Age Range API to obtain the user’s age category, if the user or their parent or guardian chooses to share it.

In addition, Apple will block users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+, starting today, until they confirm they are adults. In this case, the App Store will perform the age confirmation automatically, but Apple notes that developers may still have separate compliance requirements they need to meet.

Also, developers whose games contain loot boxes — a gambling-like mechanism that lets players spend money for a random chance at in-game rewards and that lawmakers believe shouldn’t be available to kids — will see their apps’ age ratings updated to reflect an 18+ audience in Brazil, specifically.

In the U.S., new users in Utah and Louisiana will soon have their age categories shared with their developers’ apps through the Declared Age Range API as well. The company said it has expanded its other tools around age ratings and permissions to meet its compliance obligations.

“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.”

Apple last October worked to comply with similar age-assurance requirements in Texas but put some of its plans on hold back in December, as the state’s law is being fought in court. It also updated its age ratings system last year with more granular age ranges than before and added a variety of new questions for developers submitting apps to Apple for review.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Reformulated antibodies could be injected for easier treatment

    In 2023, Doyle’s lab developed a way to generated highly concentrated antibody formulations by encapsulating them into hydrogel particles. However, that requires centrifugation, a step that would be difficult to…

    Samsung’s Next Galaxy Watch Reveal Might Be Ultra Special

    We’re only two months into the year, and Samsung has already dropped two major debuts, including a surprise trifold reveal and a new lineup of flagship Galaxy phones. Now, a fresh wave…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Abigail Spanberger, in Democratic Response, Asks if Trump Is Working for Americans

    On LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper Release Date

    On LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper Release Date

    Playing politics against refugees in Canada, the State of the Union and the state of the NHL

    Playing politics against refugees in Canada, the State of the Union and the state of the NHL

    Tentative labour deal reached with 26,000 B.C. community health workers in B.C.

    Tentative labour deal reached with 26,000 B.C. community health workers in B.C.

    Where is Canada’s immigration minister? Community groups are asking

    Where is Canada’s immigration minister? Community groups are asking

    Rep. Ilhan Omar shouts at Trump during his address

    Rep. Ilhan Omar shouts at Trump during his address