if a phone is tied to a svc acct like a telco provider- age verification should be automatic as THAT provider cannot open an acct for a child.
Apple brings age verification to UK users in iOS 26.4 beta - Users who don’t verify their age may not be able to download or purchase apps.
Submitted 3 weeks ago by user224@lemmy.sdf.org to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.theverge.com/tech/884306/apple-age-verification-uk-users-ios-26-4-beta
Comments
flandish@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Doom@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
FUCKING THANK YOU!
d00ery@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’m not in favour of any of the age restriction stuff UK government is doing.
Good argument, but:
Phones in the UK can be bought without a contract and untied to any network.
Pay as you go SIM cards can be bought without a contract.
Credit cards used to make purchases online require users to be 18 or over. Debit cards on the other hand can be issued to those under 18 (but a bank account will require evidence of ID, address, age). gohenry.com/…/what-age-can-you-get-a-debit-card-i…
flandish@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
can a debit card be created by someone under 18? ie does a parent have to do it then give johnny a card? can a bodega owner sell a prepaid to a minor, and can prepaids be used?
just wondering where up the chain the responsibility lies. i’m all for corps being held to task, but also parents. if i handed my kid a phone it was my responsibility.
now he had phones that he acquired. i saw them. so i know it is largely irrelevant my thoughts on chain of concern.
in short: this is a terrible tar pit of gov horseshit sold in the “protect the kids” camp but really is “build a bigger fascist state db…”
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
This is what happens when your phone is no longer YOUR phone
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
[deleted]ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Dude, apple IS the man
Zetta@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
Open source software like GrapheneOS is the only software you should ever trust to not be government spyware.
rektdeckard@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Apple is the man. Google is the man. The men claiming they are the men are just little pocket puppets.
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 2 weeks ago
Apple has done a fantastic job surrounding their privacy reputation. Problem is, they absolutely bent the knee and kissed the ring.
The only way out is either going with custom roms on an android or a Linux phone, … anything along those lines (you know, IT stuff that let’s you actually do stuff). Or don’t participate.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 week ago
The company that bribed the Cheeto?
Yeah, sure. Trust THAT company
XLE@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
> can’t have apps without an account
> cave have an account without a loicenseWill this finally kill off the “Apple is private enough” mantra I always hear?
nullPointer@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
unfortunately, that is now how cults work.
Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Apple is doing this instead of requiring app developers to implement and maintain their own system, which is what Android is doing.
The question comes down to who trust more, any random app developer or a single entity.
For example this means meta doesn’t have to verify their iOS users because iOS already has.
I’m sure most people in this thread are coming at this all from a morally superior position about how they don’t use meta but they also don’t use iOS devices so this is another bit of outrage.
No one here is actually anything besides get upset about something that doesn’t effect them. The internet has become a silly place.
XLE@piefed.social 2 weeks ago
To put it simply, I do in fact care a great deal, because Android moving towards centralization from Google. It’s bad. It’s all bad.
These companies can’t be trusted with their identity, and they’ve been demonstrably untrustworthy for over a decade. Have you heard of Total Information Awareness and its spawn? PRISM? Palantir?
Matty_r@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
Wow, thats fucked. I hope Australia doesn’t decide to do this as well. This shit is happening so quickly at the moment
awaysaway@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
me too but i’m not overly optimistic. i don’t think there is a strong enough culture of anti-surveillance
hector@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
I think they did this first, at least they passed the law first. Our “left center” government in action.
Quicky@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
Mixed feelings about this.
However, ethical questions aside, and from a purely legal conformation standpoint, if the phone validates the user is over 18 and passes only that info as a token to whatever application or website requests it, then it’s a good implementation. It means elimination of multiple validation requirements, minimal transfer of data to third parties, fewer sources holding personal data, etc. Whether it works that way remains to be seen.
nul9o9@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
I haven’t read this particular law. But one proposed in Colorado still requires service providers to look for other indicators of age and override the one reported by the OS.
0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
It’s always funny when Apple fanboys try to whitewash its brand.
“Apple is the most private mobile operating system there is that cares for its users that stands up to governments” until it doesn’t but that’s still great because it is how it is and apple has to obey laws and its fine because they hide their involvement with feds so well with marketing, and the cult accepts whatever they do, so they get a pass.
web.archive.org/…/apple-admits-to-secretly-giving…
Have you tried not being a cult member to manufacture consent for corporations?
That or PR agencies are picking up fediverse to push people into being docile consumers.
Quicky@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
Not a single word in this rant has any relevance to my comment.
Nelots@piefed.zip 3 weeks ago
Kinda just sounds like you were looking for an excuse to aggressively rant at someone. I don’t know how you came away thinking they were an apple fanboy after reading that comment full of ifs and general skepticism.
SorteKanin@feddit.dk 3 weeks ago
purely legal conformation standpoint
It’s still stupid even if it’s required by law.
Quicky@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
The technical implementation, or the law itself?
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
linule@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Why is there no privacy respecting solution for age verification? Like the government giving you some sort of token that says you’re over 18 and that’s it?
sunbeam60@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
What if I told you that’ by regulation, the EU age verification system has to be anonymous and that it’s only the AUKUS countries that are moving forward in a way where anonymity is “a nice to have”.
Denmark’s system, which is a front-runner implementation in the EU, is going to be fully ZKP.
linule@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
That sounds great. I don’t follow the topic closely (probably I should), so wasn’t aware of these developments. This should be brought up in all discussions about age verification, so everyone knows there are better options.
ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
How are you supposed to abuse the data of people that you can’t even identify…?
eah@programming.dev 2 weeks ago
Anyone have a more in-depth technical description of how that works? I’m interested.
NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Because its not about age verification, its about tracking and controlling you and making a privacy respecting solution isn’t compatible with that.
linule@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
So there should be a rebuttal demanding a privacy respecting age verification token, instead of just arguing against age verification, which technically does have a point. This way you disable their excuse to sneak in the other things.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
Because then you can share the token and everyone can use it
I’m sure a more robust solution is possible though.
undu@discuss.tchncs.de 2 weeks ago
The scheme from the Danish government, shared in another comment, avoids the sharing by allowing token to be used only once, and, because the government issues the tokens, it can block people from getting tokens if they detect abuse. This can be done by rate-limiting, geoblocking and all sorts of techniques.
Remember that the function of the anonymous token is to not allow the service provider (like an OS, or a a website) to see your identity. This still allows the government to see which service provider you are using.
Hopefully the service provider can form pools yo block the government from knowing each individual website, but that’s not a given.
NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You can make them biometric and still be private, but that’s even more effort which they wont spend.
linule@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Personal ids can also be used by non-owners, not much different than this theoretic age verification token. But yeah, ideally it would have an security layer to sufficiently confirm ownership.
Jimmytea@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
There is!, one of the officially recognised and approved ways is credit card verification, however afaik only steam is doing that.
linule@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I mean a dedicated, government issued age verification token that doesn’t reveal any data to the third party other than you are allowed access age wise.
JenitalJouster@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
i’ve seen screenshots of ios users being verified due to having their credit cards as payment methods tied to their name, which is a hell of a lot better than an ID
odelik@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
There is.
It’s called Parental Controls.
It also does a fairly good job at preventing stuff from getting through.
One of the big issues right now is that there’s a lot of sexualized content on social media right now that’s bypassing parental controls because the social media services are doing a poor job of limiting that content when encountering a parental controlled device.
Ulrich@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Another reason sideloading is important.
lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Sideloading isn’t a real term - there is only loading a better OS than whatever spy-tech google is offering.
You can’t “sideload” hardware you own - you just install whatever software you like and prefer
Ulrich@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Jesus Tittyfucking Christ, yes it is. I’m not typing out “installing software from outside the Google Play Store” every time so you can go away.
Scrollone@feddit.it 3 weeks ago
Exactly. It’s important that we stop saying “sideloading”, we should just say “install directly” or some other non-loaded expressions
odelik@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
I’ve been using the term side loading since the early late 90s/2000s for installing software or files to a device via a transfer cable. And by the time Android came along, the early app development community was using the term to push the app to your device via ADB. And from there it’s expanded from transfer cable push to download and install from an unmanaged 3rd party source on a mobile computing device.
So the term has existed in some form throughout the tech/power user community before modern mobile computing. Now did Apple and Google usurp the term? Ehhh, possibly? I’ve yet to encounter somebody that uses sideloading to mean something negative, but I’m sure there is a group out there that does. I’m not convinced that group is large enough for me to stop using language I started using nearly 30 years ago to mean something specific. “Why use more, less precise, words when this single term says it already?”
Lazer365@feddit.nl 3 weeks ago
My Apple account is probably old enough to vote…
NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I wonder if any companies would ever accept that as proof hah.
tackleberry@thelemmy.club 2 weeks ago
Time for more users to adopt GrapheneOS
ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
GrapheneOS is great and all but I refuse to willingly give google a single dollar for their hardware.
When GrapheneOS can be installed on any device is when I’ll gladly make that switch.
Xatolos@reddthat.com 2 weeks ago
Buy a user one then. Google won’t see your money then.
Or wait a little longer. piunikaweb.com/…/grapheneos-to-release-non-pixel-…
In a revealing discussion with David Bombal, the GrapheneOS team confirmed they are actively working with a “top-tier Android OEM” to bring their hardened operating system to non-Google flagship devices.
Warl0k3@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
If only you didn’t have to give google money to be able to install it.
Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Buy used and unlocked. Just sold one at my work, was a pixel 8 pro for 300 USD.
Osan@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
For god’s sake can corporations and governments stop trying to
control and survey peopledo the job of parents and society. If parents are not doing their job then you need better awareness and education not to take over.pressanykeynow@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Pretty sure everyone understand it’s not about the age.
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
When we were young adults and couldn’t buy our own booze, we made it. Let’s do something like that here.
kilgore_trout@feddit.it 2 weeks ago
That is what F-Droid would be, on Android. If it survives…
Of course, we have SailfishOS, postmarketOS, and other small ones, too.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Damn I was not nearly that based at 20. And given that you’re on a Canadian instance and this is about the UK, I’m assuming you’re talking more like 16-17…
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
We were 14-15. 1 can pineapple, same can filled with sugar, a packet of my mom’s bread yeast. Dump it all in a gallon container and fill with water and put a lid on it (loosely, so it can “breath”). Hide it somewhere safe and live in fear of it being found for a month or two. Strain it and pass it around. We were stupid fools. We even tried “Scope” (a mouthwash) which was about the same as wine, back then.
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
no problem, I’ll just use apps from outside of the App Store, right?
Scrollone@feddit.it 3 weeks ago
You could, if you lived in the EU :)
plyth@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Teens can travel alone and setup their phone in France or Ireland, or by their phone from a dealer. All the cool kids will have free phones and be on snapchat, forcing everybody else to follow suit.
LemmyEntertainYou@piefed.social 2 weeks ago
Starmer really needs to fuck off.
maplesaga@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
What if a butterfly was made out of butter?
These kinds of thoughts could destroy big brother.
PurplebeanZ@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Your thoughts are incredible sir!
LoremIpsumGenerator@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
[deleted]KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Most kids phones are hand me downs from parents these days. At least they were with my kids other than the first line purchase, and most of their friends. A 6 year old with an iPhone 11 wouldn’t be that weird.
imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Not only used. Parents buy new phones to children and these are not cheap Xiaomis or OPPOs. Most of the time it is actually a Samsung or an iPhone, be it an older version or a new one.
9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Holy. Shit.
Fijxu@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
What the actual fuck???
nul9o9@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Disgusting.
rimu@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
2026, the year of the PWA.
paequ2@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
Unfortunately, Google and Apple have crippled PWAs. Surprise, surprise. They don’t get the attention, features, or bug fixes native apps get.
But also, a lot of apps are just views into websites anyway. So I bet a lot of apps could just be PWAs.
The main hurdle is getting people to install the PWAs instead of apps. It’s a different install flow.
StrawberryPigtails@lemmy.sdf.org 3 weeks ago
Well, since I’m not doing that, that would prevent me from having to install the apps that every damned company seems to insist I install rather than having a website. Kinda makes me wish for this nonsense to come to the US.
thingAmaBob@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Looks like the ways they’re doing this is via credit card or account age. I wanted to keep my current phone until it died before switching to something else but fuck me, who knows what nonsense they’ll make us do in the near future.
khanh@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
IT GETS TO A POINT
imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Guess that is an epic time for android phones. Sike! Unfortunately, majority will do ID verification.
Ashiette@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Nah, I really think Android is becoming worse. In six months we won’t be able to install unoficial apps. It won’t be long until this happens too
joyjoy@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Stay small. If you get too big, the government will start bossing you around.
HexaBack@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
quite funny for me to read this on a furiphone…
ironic, even
Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
The UK government is so god damn dumb.
umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
evil*
MrWildBunnycat@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Both