Apple has begun rolling out a set of tools designed to comply with the increasing number of age verification laws both in the United States and internationally. Among the key updates, the company will restrict downloads of apps rated 18+ in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, while adding new features to align with existing legislation in the states of Utah and Louisiana.
The company informed developers this Tuesday that it will expand its suite of age verification functionalities, including an updated version of its declared age range API, which is now available in beta for testing.
These tools allow developers to know a user’s age bracket without accessing personal information such as their exact date of birth. This solution responds to the advancement of regulations in different countries seeking to restrict minors’ access to certain platforms, such as social media, limiting their use to adults over 18.
In Brazil, for example, developers can use this API to learn the user’s age category, provided that the user—or their parent or guardian—has chosen to share such information.
As of today, users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore will not be able to download apps rated 18+ without first confirming their adult status. In these cases, the App Store will carry out the verification process automatically, although Apple warns that developers may have additional legal obligations to fulfill.
Furthermore, games that include loot boxes—mechanics similar to gambling that allow players to pay for random rewards and which various legislators consider inappropriate for minors—will have their age ratings adjusted in Brazil to reflect that they are exclusively intended for adults over 18.
In the United States, new users residing in Utah and Louisiana will also share their age ranges with developers’ apps through the declared age range API. Apple has indicated that it has expanded its tools related to age classifications and permissions to adequately comply with its legal responsibilities.
“The declared age range API now includes new signals, such as whether the user is subject to age-related regulatory requirements and whether they need to share their age bracket,” Apple explains in its statement. “The API will also indicate whether you require authorization from a parent or guardian to make significant changes to an app intended for minors.”
Last October, Apple had already begun adapting to similar requirements in Texas, although it suspended some of its plans in December while the validity of the state law is being decided in the courts. Additionally, last year the company updated its age classification system by incorporating more detailed categories and introduced new questions for developers submitting apps for review.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director