iPhone age checks criticised as invasive ‘ransomware’

As Apple rolls out mandatory age verification to all iPhone users in the UK, critics have labelled this policy invasive, likening its effect to that of ransomware.

With the rollout of its latest iOS 26.4 update, Apple is requiring all users in the UK to verify their age on their device or be subjected to limitations that prevent them from accessing adult-only content.

The age assurance measures have been welcomed by UK communications regulator Ofcom, but others have criticised the move as an invasion of privacy.

Big Brother Watch, a UK organisation advocating for digital privacy and against surveillance, has levelled heavy criticism at Apple over its sudden implementation of age verification across all its UK users.

“It is absolutely outrageous that, overnight, Apple has put a chokehold on Britons’ freedom to search the internet, access information and use apps unless they provide sensitive ID documents,” said Big Brother Watch director Silkie Carlo.

“This means 35 million Brits who have paid hundreds or even thousands of pounds for Apple tech suddenly now have a child’s device unless they comply with invasive demands for personal information that go far beyond what UK law requires.”

“Apple has crossed the Rubicon with this software update which is more like ransomware, holding customers hostage to ID demands that are invasive, exclusionary and unnecessary,” he said.

Silko noted that keeping children safe online was vital, but said these kinds of “sweeping, draconian, shock demands by foreign companies” were not the way to achieve this. He advocated instead for better parental controls and more thoughtful technology responsibility.

How Apple age verification works

In compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to conduct age assurance checks before exposing users to adult or potentially harmful content, Apple is showing UK customers an on-screen notice that appears on their iPhone or iPad and prompts them to verify their age.

Users have several options to prove their age:

• Using a credit card already stored in their Apple Wallet or Apple ID.
• Scanning a government-issued photo ID, such as a driving licence or passport.
• Relying on the longevity of their Apple account, which can serve as an indicator of adulthood.

While the Act does not formally cover app stores or mobile operating systems, Ofcom, the UK’s media and telecoms regulator, has actively encouraged smartphone makers to go further.

Ofcom welcomed Apple’s decision, calling it “a real win for children and families” and noting that the UK is one of the first countries worldwide to receive these device-level protections.

The regulator said it had worked closely with Apple on the implementation of device-wide age verification, and it has encouraged Google to adopt similar measures to protect users in the UK.

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