Andre Louis1d ago

Well this is the first time I think I’ve been genuinely bloody livid about an update because of iOS 26.4.

I don’t do credit cards, only debit, which is common enough in the UK, and none of the cards I input were enough to prove I’m over 18, despite the fact I purchased the damn phone, it’s tied to my Apple ID which has my birthdate, and since we don’t have ID cards and I don’t drive, my one method of verification (that being my passport) was not accepted.

As a result I cannot change some settings on the phone I spent my own money on….. What the actual hell is this utter fucking bullshit? Age verification laws strike again. Fan fucking tastic.

Show threadRevK 
@FreakyFwoof I wonder if people are managing to return iPhone for a refund?
7:50amWeb
Show threadAndre Louis10h ago
@revk And do what, switch to something else that will probably do the same thing in a few weeks or months time? It's a government mandate not an apple-specific thing. That solves absolutely nothing.
Show threadRevK 9h ago
@FreakyFwoof does anyone know which law?
Show threadAndre Louis9h ago
@revk Well, age verification, since that's the whole point of the thing. As for exactly the name, no idea.
Show threadRevK 9h ago

@FreakyFwoof BBC say NOT required at device level.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20qwz9xzr9o

So sounds like apples’s choice here.

Apple iPhone users in the UK asked to verify age with new update

Customers who do not confirm how old they are or are underage will have web content filters turned on automatically.

BBC News
Show threadAndre Louis9h ago
@revk Correct, so they tried to get ahead of the game I suspect and drastically failed. Next, google will likely enforce it on Android too, but hopefully not screw up as badly as Apple did. It will obviously have to be fixed, you can't lock thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of people out of their devices like this.
Someone will probably get fired over the blunder.
Show threaddoboprobodyne8h ago

@FreakyFwoof @revk

*If* you're looking for mainstream alternatives without age verification, you may wish to consider #grapheneOS ... I mostly use FOSS apps via #Obtanium or #Fdroid and the few proprietary apps I use (banking, MS teams, etc...) work fine. I've observed that users who are completely dependent on many niche proprietary apps sometimes complain about lost functionality. Equally I accept this is the cohort least likely to have capacity to find solutions to their problems. Anyway, Your Mileage May Vary is all I'm trying to say!
https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/23/grapheneos-wont-implement-age-verification/

#FOSS #privacy

GrapheneOS Won’t Implement Age Verification

The security and privacy-focused GrapheneOS stated in an X post that they will “remain usable by anyone around the world without requiring personal information, identification or an account.”

Privacy Guides
Show threada53bdb6h ago

@doboprobodyne @FreakyFwoof @revk

Don’t use F-Droid and Aurora store for security, use Obtainium, Accrescent and AppVerifier.

https://privsec.dev/posts/android/f-droid-security-issues/

https://xcancel.com/search?f=tweets&q=from%3AGrapheneOS+Aurora+Store

F-Droid Security Issues

F-Droid is a popular alternative app repository for Android, especially known for its main repository dedicated to free and open-source software. F-Droid is often recommended among security and privacy enthusiasts, but how does it stack up against Play Store in practice? This write-up will attempt to emphasize major security issues with F-Droid that you should consider. Before we start, a few things to keep in mind: The main goal of this write-up was to inform users so they can make responsible choices, not to trash someone else’s work.

Show threaddoboprobodyne22m ago
@a53bdb @FreakyFwoof @revk
Welllll... Sure, but if one can't get the app one really wants to install via obtanium, and it isn't on Accrescent, and isn't on the Google Play Store, then there's no path to victory.
Show threadAurochs7h ago
@FreakyFwoof @revk My phone has e/ OS and all the android apps work well in it. In case you see it as an option.
Show threadRevK 9h ago
@FreakyFwoof and before someone says Apple probably had to or else the law would be changed… that is very much not how laws are meant to work, that is legislation by the back door without debate or public scrutiny or representation. So if that is the case we have an even bigger issue.
Show threadRevK 9h ago
@FreakyFwoof of course, it could be Apple being clever to cause a public backlash. If Apple now back down they have made the public aware and it is way less likely the law could move forward. If that is so, then well done Apple!
Show threadAndre Louis9h ago
@revk Hahahah I think that's giving them way too much credit.
I think it's more the 'American way or the highway' mentality where almost *everyone* has a credit card and/or driving license, or state ID. WE don't really do that sort of thing here, as you know.