Ofcom welcomes Apple age verification in UK
Apple introduced iOS 26.4 yesterday, packing this with a range of features. One of these features is a new approach to age verification, in which the company uses the length of time you have held an Apple account as a proof point for age.
Simple and effective
What happens is that when you first launch your device after installing the new OS, UK users meet an age verification screen. If Apple doesn’t know your age it will ask you to scan photo ID or a credit card to ensure you are an adult.
But, if you hold an Apple account, the company can also use information about your payment methods on file or the length of time you have maintained an Apple Account to confirm you are an adult.
It’s swift, easy, and doesn’t require you to upload your data to easily hacked online verification systems run by people you don’t know and protected by security you can’t trust. It’s a good approach that should legitimately become the primary approach to such verification, at least if we have to verify who we are it may as well be done on a platform basis by an accountable entity, such as Apple.
‘For your protection’
UK regulator Ofcom is the entity that oversees TV, radio, internet, social media and other communication services in the UK. It is the prime regulator to police the UK’s (flawed) Online Safety Act. Age verification was one of the requirements of that act.
What does Ofcom think of Apple’s approach? It told Engadget:
“Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families,” the regulator said.
“Our rules are flexible and designed to encourage innovation, particularly in age assurance. We’ve worked closely with Apple and other services to ensure they can be applied in a variety of contexts in order to ensure users are protected. This will build on the strong foundations of the Online Safety Act, from widespread age checks that keep young people away from harmful content, to blocking high-risk sites and stepping up action against child sexual abuse material.”
Though of course in the surveillance loving UK state it’s hard to believe these systems are solely about such protection.
You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky, LinkedIn, and Mastodon.
