UK iPhone users face over-18 age check to use services after update

Ofcom says decision is ‘real win for children and families’ but some users raise concerns over privacy Millions of Apple iPhone customers in the UK will now have to confirm they are 18 or older to use all available services, including by showing a credit card or by scanning an ID. The move, believed to be a first for a European market, comes amid pressure on tech companies from the government to do more to protect children online. The new requirement will be included in a software update. It was welcomed by Ofcom, the online regulator, which called it “a real win for children and families” and said it was part of a wider drive to “keep young people away from harmful content”. However, some users complained that it raised concerns about the privacy of the information that is uploaded to prove age. One on Reddit said: “Myself and everyone I know (wife, friends, family, colleagues, etc) are doing everything to bypass these overreaching age checks. I want to have a choice on each occasion to skip or cancel if asked to prove my age.” Apple said in an online post announcing the change: “Adults will have to confirm that they’re 18 or older to use certain services or features, or take cert