Apple has introduced mandatory age verification measures for Australian users seeking access to certain features and adult-rated applications on its devices, citing growing global pressure to enhance online protections for children. The new requirements, announced on Tuesday, mandate that Australians prove they are at least 18 years old by submitting an official form of identification such as a passport, driver’s licence, or government-issued ID. Users can also confirm their age using a credit card, though debit and gift cards are not accepted.

Apple stated that existing account holders with a valid credit card on file may be prompted to verify their age through such records. Users who decline to complete the age verification process will still retain basic device functionality but must confirm their age before disabling safety features or downloading apps rated for adults.

The updated verification protocols are part of a broader overhaul of Apple’s parental controls, first initiated earlier this year. Expanding beyond Australia, the new age confirmation system will apply in Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, wherever legally required. These measures coincide with Australia’s recent legislative actions, including a pioneering ban on social media use for children under 16, introduced by the Albanese government late last year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Apple's efforts, acknowledging the company’s efforts as aligned with Australia’s world-leading approach to online child safety. Albanese noted that Tim Cook, Apple’s executive chairman and former CEO, credited Australia’s social media age restrictions as a key inspiration for the new features, which also incorporate automatic safety filters that blur explicit content sent to minors and block FaceTime calls involving inappropriate material.

For children under 13, Apple maintains strict account creation rules requiring parental consent and inclusion in family sharing groups. The company said these child accounts limit access to adult websites, restrict age-inappropriate content, and provide parents with greater oversight over their children’s online interactions and app usage.

The government’s broader digital safety framework includes plans to empower Australians with greater control over social media feeds through the “My Feed, My Way” initiative, aiming to curb algorithmic tracking practices similar to recent European Union regulations. Companies that do not comply with these new regulations risk fines up to AUD 100 million.

Apple’s regulatory challenges extend beyond Australia. In Europe, stringent rules under the Digital Markets Act have led to disputes between Apple and companies like Meta, with Apple alleging that some compliance demands—such as sharing detailed Wi-Fi connection data—pose privacy risks by enabling tracking of users’ sensitive locations. Apple has criticized European regulators for what it calls overreach into the company’s intellectual property and product design, complicating international technology governance.

These developments underscore an evolving regulatory landscape as governments and agencies, including Australia’s Competition & Consumer Commission, reassess their rules surrounding technology companies and user privacy, potentially shaping how Australians—and users elsewhere—interact with devices and online services in the near future.