Apple will block certain app downloads in three countries from today
If you live in these three major countries, you'll now be blocked from downloading certain apps on Apple devices unless you pass the verification process that has been implemented today.
Many governments across the world have already implemented age-related blocks on a number of websites and apps hosting adult content, and it hasn't just affected pornographic sites but also some of the most-used social media platforms like X, Discord, and Reddit.
Some of these only include partial blocks, where you can still use the app/platform without verification but in a limited capacity, whereas others have taken a hardline — even disabling access entirely regardless of your age.
Now, following a swift decision from Apple, residents of Brazil, Australia, and Singapore will now be blocked from downloading certain apps rated '18+' on the App Store if their account doesn't pass the verification process, as reported by Digital Trends.
How does the verification process work?
Unlike most checks you've likely encountered so far, the verification checks on the Apple store are operated automatically using your Apple account data, meaning that if you're over the age of 18 you won't need to do a single thing.
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The verification process is enacted as soon as you try to download the app, and if your account age doesn't exceed 18 then you'll be blocked from proceeding.
There is also additional accountability for developers to ensure that the apps themselves have additional age verification processes, however, and these are far more likely to be invasive or require additional proof for you to pass.
One area that this could affect significantly is gaming, as within Brazil any game that has loot boxes or similar gambling-like mechanics is automatically rated 18+, and in conjunction with the new rules from Apple this could block off a sizeable percentage of the potential player base.
From Apple's side of things, the company is also undergoing beta testing for features that would be able to hide your specific date of birth from developers and instead provide a date range, protecting many from the privacy concerns that have emerged amid growing child safety laws.
There remain still many that aren't as willing as companies might hope to hand over their personal information – especially it involves images of their face – as issues with the implementation of Discord's age verification checks, where supposedly-deleted data was leaked in a breach, have left people wary of participation.