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Apple is launching new tools to comply with the growing number of age-verification laws both in the U.S. and abroad. As part of the changes, Apple will block the downloads of apps rated 18+ in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, while also rolling out other features to comply with laws in Utah and Louisiana in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The company informed developers<\/a> on Tuesday that it\u2019s expanding its set of \u201cage assurance\u201d tools, including an updated Declared Age Range API now available for beta testing.<\/p>\n These tools allow developers to obtain a user\u2019s age range<\/a> without gaining access to the user\u2019s personal information, like their date of birth. The need for a technical solution like this came about as more governments around the world have created laws to block or restrict certain apps like social media that can only be used by adults 18 and up.<\/p>\n In Brazil, for example, developers can use the Declared Age Range API to obtain the user\u2019s age category, if the user or their parent or guardian chooses to share it. <\/p>\n In addition, Apple will block users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+, starting today, until they confirm they are adults. In this case, the App Store will perform the age confirmation automatically, but Apple notes that developers may still have separate compliance requirements they need to meet.<\/p>\n Also, developers whose games contain loot boxes \u2014 a gambling-like mechanism that lets players spend money for a random chance at in-game rewards and that lawmakers believe shouldn\u2019t be available to kids \u2014 will see their apps\u2019 age ratings updated to reflect an 18+ audience in Brazil, specifically.<\/p>\n In the U.S., new users in Utah and Louisiana will soon have their age categories shared with their developers\u2019 apps through the Declared Age Range API as well. The company said it has expanded its other tools around age ratings and permissions to meet its compliance obligations.<\/p>\n \u201cNew signals are now available through the Declared Age Range API, including whether age-related regulatory requirements apply to the user and if the user is required to share their age range,\u201d reads the Apple blog post. \u201cThe API will also let you know if you need to get a parent or guardian\u2019s permission for significant app updates for a child.\u201d<\/p>\n Apple last October worked to comply with similar age-assurance requirements in Texas but put some of its plans on hold back in December,<\/a> as the state\u2019s law is being fought in court. It also updated its age ratings system last year<\/a> with more granular age ranges than before and added a variety of new questions for developers submitting apps to Apple for review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n