Apple just started blocking certain app downloads in three countries. Users in Brazil, Australia and Singapore will now be subject to automatic age verification when attempting to download 18+ apps from the App Store.
The move is part of a broader effort to comply with child safety laws worldwide. Apple notified developers of the changes on Tuesday, expanding its retirement security tools to meet new rules in the U.S. and abroad.
For affected users, the process is automatic. The App Store checks your age in the background before allowing you to download adult content. Developers still have their own compliance obligations to fulfill.
How the new blocks actually work
The blocking occurs immediately if you try to download an app for people over 18 years old. You don’t have to upload any ID or prove anything manually. Apple only confirms your age based on your account information.
But the developers are not off the hook. You must continue to meet any age verification requirements required by local law.
Stricter rules apply to gamers in Brazil. Apps with loot boxes now automatically have an age rating of 18+, keeping children away from gambling-like mechanisms.
The bigger change is happening behind the scenes
These three countries are not the only ones. Apple is also expanding its tools in the US, with the age range of new users in Utah and Louisiana soon to be shared with developers.
The company is currently beta testing an updated API for declared ages. It tells developers a user’s age group without revealing their exact date of birth. It’s a privacy-focused solution to a growing problem as more and more governments pass laws banning children from accessing certain apps.
What’s next for Apple’s age checks?
This won’t be the last expansion. Apple reacts quickly when new laws come into effect. The company was working on similar requirements in Texas last year but paused in December as that law faces a court challenge.
Apple isn’t the only one struggling to develop these tools. ChatGPT began rolling out age prediction in January. It analyzed account behavior to estimate whether someone was under 18 and automatically applied content filters. Mislabeled users can verify their age through Persona, an identity service that uses live selfies and government IDs.
Discord took a different approach. The platform announced global age verification in February, but quickly postponed it until the end of 2026 after users dismissed privacy concerns.
The strictest rules initially apply in Brazil, Australia and Singapore. But the pattern is clear. More and more places are requiring age verification and platforms are scrambling to catch up. If you live elsewhere, expect changes as local laws come into effect.
