Apple is bolstering its age verification measures for app downloads in several key markets, including Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, as new regulations surrounding app safety and data privacy take effect. The tech giant is updating its Declared Age Range API and implementing stricter controls on apps rated 18+, aiming to comply with evolving legal landscapes and protect younger users. These changes, announced February 24, 2026, represent a significant step towards age assurance in the app ecosystem.
The updates come as governments worldwide increasingly focus on digital safety and the protection of children online. Apple’s response involves both automated checks within the App Store and tools for developers to independently verify user ages. The core of this effort centers around the Declared Age Range API, which allows developers to obtain a user’s age category – with user consent – and receive signals about the method of age assurance used. This is particularly relevant as developers navigate new laws in regions like Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Utah, and Louisiana.
New Restrictions on 18+ Apps
Starting February 24, 2026, Apple will block users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+ unless they have been verified as adults through “reasonable methods.” MacRumors reports that the App Store will automatically handle this verification process, but developers are still responsible for independently confirming the age of their users where necessary. The Declared Age Range API provides a crucial signal to assist developers in this process, available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
In Brazil, the changes extend to apps containing loot boxes. According to Apple’s announcement, any app identified as including loot boxes through the age rating questionnaire will automatically receive an 18+ rating on the Brazil storefront. This is a direct response to new Brazilian laws preventing children from accessing such features within apps. Developers can obtain a user’s age group in Brazil through the Declared Age Range API, but only when the user, or a parent or guardian, explicitly agrees to share that information.
API Updates and Developer Tools
Apple isn’t just implementing restrictions; it’s also providing developers with a suite of tools to navigate these new requirements. Beyond the Declared Age Range API, updates include the Significant Change API under PermissionKit, a new age rating property type in StoreKit, and App Store Server Notifications. These tools are designed to assist developers understand and comply with age-related regulations in different regions. 9to5Mac highlights that the Declared Age Range API now provides signals indicating whether age-related regulatory requirements apply to a user and if they are required to share their age range.
The API also informs developers if parental permission is needed for significant app updates for users identified as children. Developers can leverage the Significant Update Action, currently in beta, to present these update notifications to adults in Utah and Louisiana, ensuring compliance with upcoming regulations in those states. Apple emphasizes that developers must adhere to Human Interface Guidelines when presenting these updates, providing users with a clear description of the changes.
Utah and Louisiana Regulations
The changes also address upcoming regulations in the U.S. States of Utah and Louisiana. For new Apple Accounts created in Utah starting May 6, 2026, and in Louisiana starting July 1, 2026, age categories will be shared with developers when requested through the Declared Age Range API. Apple’s developer news page details how these tools have been expanded to meet compliance obligations in these states.
These updates reflect a broader trend in the tech industry towards greater responsibility for user safety and data privacy. Apple’s proactive approach, providing both enforcement mechanisms and developer tools, positions it as a key player in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding age assurance. The company’s commitment to these changes underscores the growing importance of protecting younger users in the digital world.
Looking ahead, developers will need to carefully integrate these new tools and processes into their apps to ensure compliance and maintain access to key markets. The effectiveness of these measures will depend on both Apple’s enforcement and developers’ diligent implementation. Continued monitoring of regulatory changes and ongoing collaboration between Apple and the developer community will be crucial in shaping the future of age assurance in the App Store.
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