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by swiftcoder 82 days ago
While Ofcom hasn't required it yet, they have indicated that they very much plan to[1]. Apple is pretty clearly getting out ahead of this, and simultaneously removing the burden of compliance off all of the relevant app developers (which seems in line with their overall privacy stance - I'm more inclined to trust Apple with my ID than I am some social network)

[1]: https://www.rpclegal.com/snapshots/consumer/winter-2025/ofco...
2 comments
Levitz 82 days ago
Removing friction from a process that damages privacy is not a positive.
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rafram 82 days ago
Passing a law that damages privacy is a negative. Complying with the law is an imperative. So mitigating harm from the law seems like a positive.
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swiftcoder 82 days ago
It's also not a net negative, if that process is going to be mandatory
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dghf 82 days ago
That mentions app stores, but I can't see anything about device-level age-verification there.

Also, does Ofcom have the power under the Online Safety Act to mandate app-store verification (or device-level verification, for that matter)? Or would it require secondary, or even primary, legislation?

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