Apple launches the beta of the age verification API in the App Store and will block ‘apps’ for those over 18 years of age

Apple has updated the age verification tools for developers in its App Store, which now have the Declared age range API in beta to meet your age verification obligations in regions such as the United States, as well as Brazil, Australia and Singapore, where will block the download of ‘apps’ for those over 18 years of age.

At a time when the arrival of legislation is imminent that supports the use of age verification functions to ensure the protection of minors ‘online’ and with mobile devices, the company led by Tim Cook announced in February of last year a new Declared age range API.

This API is designed to offer users developers a Secure way to request age-related information to users. An option designed to help verify if those who want to use its applications are minors and determine if the content is suitable for their age.

This is a safe method because it allows the age of the minor to be shared only if the parents have previously consented and it can be deactivated at any time. Furthermore, all of this is done through a private processsince other age verification methods that require the registration of an official identity document are not used.

Now, Apple has updated the tools available to developers to meet their age verification obligations, making available the Declared age range API, that is already available in beta version for testing on iOS, iPadOS and macOS.

This update has been released for respond to legislation of certain regions, such as United States, Brazil, Australia and Singapore, among others, as specified in a statement on its blog for developers.

In addition to all this, the technology company has indicated that it has introduced new signals in the API to inform developers whether age-related regulatory requirements apply in certain regions and whether users must therefore share their age range in order to use the service.

The API will also detail to developers the cases in which the Permission from a parent or guardian to make important updates in the application, in the case of a minor.

For their part, developers will be able to use the API to present important update notifications to adults using the new Important Update Actionwhich has also been released in beta. In this case, developers should make sure to follow the Human Interface Guidelines to provide users with “a clear description of the update.

BLOCKING ‘APPS’ DOWNLOADS FOR OVER 18 YEARS OLD

Following this line, Apple has also announced that, from now on, it will prevent users from specific regions such as Australia, Brazil and Singapore, download applications rated for over 18 yearsif they have not previously confirmed their majority by “reasonable methods.”

As the technology company has explained, the App Store itself will carry out this confirmation automatically using API declared age range. However, he stressed that the own developers could have separate obligations to confirm that its users are of legal age, in addition to the tools offered by the App Store.

It must be taken into account that, specifically for developers who distribute applications in Brazil, Apple has clarified that if their applications include loot boxes will be automatically qualified as Suitable for people over 18 years of age.

These advances to facilitate age verification respond to the upcoming laws that will come into force in countries such as USAwhich has legislation such as bill SB 2420 approved by the Texas State Congress (United States), which forces companies that own application stores such as Apple or Google to verify the age of users. Added to this are other regulations such as App Store Liability Law of Utah.

Despite these advances in verification tools, it must be taken into account that Apple has shared its contraposition to the tendency to grant Responsibility for user age verification exclusively to app storesclaiming that, although they share the goal of “strengthening children’s safety online,” they are concerned that the demands of these laws “threaten the privacy of all users.”