Companies in the loot box business will be taking note of Apple’s gradual global rollout of age-verification tools to comply with increased child safety laws.
According to reports, the US tech giant announced Tuesday that it will block the downloads of apps rated 18+ in Australia, Singapore, and Brazil.
In the latter country specifically, according to TechCrunch, loot box developers offering in-game rewards will see their “apps’ age ratings updated to reflect an 18+ audience.”
mandatory for underage users “to link their accounts to a parent’s account”
Apple is also rolling out other compliance features in multiple US states, including Louisiana and Utah. In Utah, Apple has made it mandatory for underage users “to link their accounts to a parent’s account” in order to access certain apps.
Apple, meanwhile, said that the age-verification tools will help app developers “meet their age-verification obligations under upcoming US and regional laws.”
Apple’s new “age assurance” tools reportedly allow app developers to “obtain a user’s age range without gaining access to the user’s personal information.”
The move comes a week after Elon Musk’s X quietly removed gambling from the industries it permits for organic advertising partnerships, posing a major compliance challenge for betting brands.
