Apple’s new age verification tools block underage app downloads where required by law
TL;DR
Apple has introduced new age verification tools for developers to comply with upcoming laws in regions like the U.S., Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. Users in some countries must confirm their age to download 18-plus apps, with automatic checks by the App Store.
Apple, like many others, has had to launch age verification features in response to new requirements for age checks in many regions, and on Tuesday, the company announced new details about its tools that developers can use to "meet their age assurance obligations under upcoming U.S. and regional laws, including in Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Utah, and Louisiana."
One of the big updates is that users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore can't download apps rated 18-plus unless their age has been confirmed through "reasonable methods," which the App Store can confirm automatically. Apple notes that developers may still "have separate obliga …