Apple has begun rolling out mandatory age verification checks for iPhone and iPad users in the United Kingdom, requiring them to confirm they are adults before accessing certain services, including 18+ apps.
The feature comes with the latest iOS 26.4 update, after which users will be prompted to verify their age. According to Apple, this can be done by submitting a credit card detail or scanning a valid ID. Users who fail to verify their age—or are identified as underage—will automatically have web content restrictions enabled on their devices.
Upon updating, users will see a notification stating: “UK law requires you to confirm you are an adult to change content restrictions.”
The move has drawn mixed reactions. UK regulator Ofcom welcomed the step, calling it a “real win for children and families,” as it strengthens safeguards against inappropriate content. The development aligns with the broader push under the Online Safety Act, where new rules introduced in 2025 require tech platforms to enhance protections for minors.
However, critics have raised concerns over privacy and digital freedom. Silkie Carlo, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, criticised the decision, saying it places a “chokehold on Britons’ freedom to search the internet.”
While current regulations do not explicitly mandate device-level age checks, Ofcom clarified that it has been working with Apple and other tech firms to ensure safety rules can be applied more broadly to protect users.
The rollout highlights a growing global debate: how to balance child safety online with user privacy and open internet access.