Crime & justice

Apple Introduces App Store Age Verification in Mandatory Regions

Does age verification protect children's safety online or create a dangerous surveillance system for all users?

Published 4 hours ago

Apple Introduces App Store Age Verification in Mandatory Regions

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Above: An Apple logo is seen on an iPhone in December 2021. Image credit: Silas Stein/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Age verification technology has evolved to protect privacy while keeping kids safe online. Advanced cryptographic solutions can confirm age without revealing names, addresses or birthdates and modern methods perform checks entirely on user devices without transmitting personal data. These reasonable safeguards enjoy public support and bring online protections in line with offline standards already used for alcohol and casinos.

The Hill University of Queensland

Establishment-critical narrative

Age verification laws create a surveillance trap that directly conflicts with data privacy protections. Platforms must collect and indefinitely store personal data to prove compliance, turning one-time checks into recurring tests that follow users over time. False positives lock out adults while teenagers easily evade systems, and enforcement pressure pushes companies toward invasive monitoring.

IEEE Spectrum

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