Tom Morris

I swear, please, if you are writing about Apple's new age verification stuff in iOS, please do not say that it is there to comply with the #OnlineSafetyAct.

The OSA applies to user-to-user and search services. iOS isn't a service that comes within the remit of the OSA, nor are (as far as I can tell) pretty much anything an Apple account is used for.

They may be trying to pre-emptively comply with other laws (such as California's AB-1043), but the OSA does not require OS-level age verification.

Mar 25 at 5:45pmWeb
Show threadCraig Morgan1d ago
@tommorris begs the question of why drip feed its deployment via UK users though before core US ones … would love to know what discussions have occurred with UK authorities already
Show threadTom Morris1d ago

@craigmorgan Apple themselves haven’t said they need to do it, as far as I can tell. I’ve seen bloggers and reporters say it was done to comply with the OSA.

Apple may be doing so in order to make it easier for app developers to comply with the OSA (and the trigger may be proposed US and EU laws which do require OS-level age information)… but it’s not necessary for Apple to comply with the OSA.

Show threadCraig Morgan1d ago
@tommorris agreed, but at a time when so many legislative changes are being discusssed/proposed/enacted globally it behoves Apple to be crystal clear as to what, why and how they are implementing changes to the status quo. Especially on such a large and widely deployed estate as all "current" iOS/iPadOS/macOS devices ...
Show threadJames Baker1d ago
@tommorris Given how the ICO is now interpreting U.K. GDPR I think it’s more accurate to say that is the likely reason. See https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2026/03/joint-statement-from-ico-and-ofcom-on-age-assurance/
Joint statement from ICO and Ofcom on age assurance

We have published a joint statement with Ofcom about the main areas of interaction between online safety and data protection as they relate to age assurance.

Show threadTom Morris1d ago
@JamesBaker was on my to-read list for later but ugh