Apple has begun blocking downloads of certain apps in three countries. Users in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore now encounter automatic age verification when attempting to download apps rated 18+ from the App Store. This initiative is part of Apple's broader effort to comply with evolving child safety regulations worldwide.
The process is automatic, with the App Store checking a user's age in the background using their account details before allowing access to mature content. However, developers still retain their own compliance responsibilities under local laws.
In Brazil, the rules are particularly strict, with apps featuring loot boxes now automatically carrying an 18+ rating. Apple is also expanding these tools in the United States and is beta-testing a privacy-focused Declared Age Range API for developers.
This trend is not unique to Apple; other platforms like ChatGPT and Discord are also implementing or planning age verification systems in response to global regulatory pressure. More regions are expected to introduce similar requirements in the future.