Apple is introducing new age verification tools to meet child safety regulations in the United States and several international markets. The company announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its “age assurance” suite, which includes a new Declared Age Range API now available for beta testing.
The API allows developers to determine a user’s age range without accessing sensitive personal data, such as a date of birth. This technical solution addresses a growing number of laws that restrict app usage to adults 18 and older.
Effective immediately, Apple is blocking downloads of apps rated 18+ in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. Users in these countries must confirm they are adults to access such content. The App Store will handle this age confirmation automatically, though Apple notes that developers remain responsible for any separate compliance obligations.
In Brazil, developers can utilize the Declared Age Range API to obtain a user’s age category if the user or their guardian chooses to share it. Additionally, games containing loot boxes in Brazil will have their age ratings updated to 18+. Lawmakers have targeted loot boxes, which allow players to spend money for random in-game rewards, arguing they should not be accessible to minors.
In the United States, the Declared Age Range API will soon share age categories with developers’ apps for new users in Utah and Louisiana. Apple stated that it has expanded other tools regarding age ratings and permissions to satisfy compliance needs in these states.
According to an Apple blog post, the API provides new signals regarding whether age-related regulatory requirements apply to a specific user. It also indicates if developers need to obtain parental permission for significant app updates intended for a child.
Apple previously attempted to comply with similar requirements in Texas last October. However, in December, the company paused some of these plans while the state’s law faces a legal challenge in court. Last year, Apple also overhauled its age rating system, introducing more granular age ranges and additional questions for developers submitting apps for review.
