The UK has an app store loophole
Telecoms regulator Ofcom has found that children are using app stores to bypass age checks and gain access to online services.
Ofcom noted that many apps simply rely on children and other users to ‘tell the truth’ when asked to input their age before giving access.
Notably, while the government has moved to regulate social media platforms to restrict access to under-16s through new legislation, app stores are no included under the Act, which means Ofcom’s hands are largely tied.
“App stores could do more to protect children online by making greater use of highly effective age assurance. To be effective, this would need to be supported by reliable information about the risks apps pose to children and well-designed protections that address those risks,” the regulator said.
“With app stores currently not regulated under the Act, our report raises important technical, policy and compliance considerations for Government, should it consider bringing app stores in scope of a future regulatory model.”
Ofcom also called for continued innovation from the wider tech industry – including at a device and operating system level as well as app stores – to deliver better online safety outcomes for children and support service-level protections.
“Ultimately, a layered or whole-of-system approach may be most effective, avoiding any single point of failure and increasing public trust,” the regulator said.
Ofcom noted that if the government decides to regulate app stores, it will need to consider a number of relevant factors, including which app store providers would be in scope, the regulatory and technical design of any regime, and its interaction with the existing regulatory framework.
“Age assurance alone would not result in better protections for children online. App stores would also need reliable information about apps, including their age suitability and the risks they may present to children; and the application of well-designed app store protections,” it said.
