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New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

bigbrotherwatch.org.uk

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Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#21

Post by gip »

fxtentacle wrote: post #16

While I agree with the general argument that iOS shouldn’t limit the user’s freedom, it looks to me like Apple actually put in some effort to make this as privacy-preserving as possible. The article somewhat glosses over it, but you can buy a PASS age verification card at the local post office for 15£. That one is widely accepted and it doesn’t contain unnecessary information that might cause trouble if it leaked (li…

> because some other parents won’t activate it, which then makes the situation unfair for the kids. I’d much rather have it on by default so that all kids are treated the same.

That’s a strange argument. The government or anyone doesn’t have a mandate to ensure everyone has the exact same experience. Differences in upbringing are normal. I didn’t have a TV growing up while most of my friends did. It might have felt unfair at the time, but it wouldn’t justify the government forcing my parents to get one -> overreach.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#23

Post by albedoa »

stavros wrote: post #10
samename wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think this is exclusive to Apple? Android is rolling out age verification as well while simultaneously making side loading more difficult.

This isn't a legal thing, it's Apple being Apple. The law is about platforms that deal in pornography, self harm, etc: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_age_verification_in_the...

The comment that you are replying to is saying that it's not exclusive to Apple and gives a non-Apple example. Your link has zero instances of the string "Apple". What am I missing.

> The law is about platforms that deal in pornography, self harm, etc

So...not exclusive to Apple.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#24

Post by eviks »

AlBugdy wrote: post #4

What do people expect when handing over their computing to a for-profit company? You can use various services where you knowingly hand over some of your data or offload a computational load, but with Apple it's like you're handing off the keys to your house, the plumbing, the electric wiring, the bricks, the alarm system and everything else to 1 entity. And you get upset when you realize you're just renting a propert…

People expect companies to serve those who deliver said profit?

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#25

Post by cornholio »

fxtentacle wrote: post #16

While I agree with the general argument that iOS shouldn’t limit the user’s freedom, it looks to me like Apple actually put in some effort to make this as privacy-preserving as possible. The article somewhat glosses over it, but you can buy a PASS age verification card at the local post office for 15£. That one is widely accepted and it doesn’t contain unnecessary information that might cause trouble if it leaked (li…

The PASS card features your name and photo, it's an ID by any other name.

You must have a very warped perspective of social reality if you think it should be acceptable to force every adult to show their papers before they can do anything in modern society - and all that just so you can avoid your parenting duties. And I say that as a parent.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#27

Post by kdheiwns »

peterspath wrote: post #2

This will probably be sneaked in, in more countries under the banner of age verification since more countries are proposing laws than ban children younger than 16 from social media. I am all for the ban of social media. But I am afraid that it will give us more government meddling and interfering on our devices. And that Apple and google are “forced” to do it. They of course have their own gains.

A ban explicitly requires government interference. That's what a ban is.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#28

Post by boysenberry »

I activated ADP as soon as it was available here, and I was hoping things would work out, and friends and family who missed the opportunity would be able to use it by now as well.

I’m not pleased with this move, but its implementation has me wondering. I barely keep up with anything these days so I was taken by surprise after I updated. And, probably due to the decrepitude, I was annoyed for a few days that my phone had been nerfed and I had to roll back, before trying probably the first thing any younger person locked out would.

I’m curious, if there’s anyone who hasn’t verified a spare account, if they would point their phone at things? It might take a moment, and there’s no real feedback until the phone accepts your evidence. People have said it takes other people’s credit cards and ID, but I’m wondering if it’ll accept a pet passport too, or really what the limit is.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#29

Post by joecool1029 »

steve-atx-7600 wrote: post #3

Could there not be a reason that Apple made this choice involving their own legal risk? Sometimes what a law actually requires is up to what happens in court in the future.

I'm guessing Apple made the calculation that doing this was cheaper than litigating it. The slop submission in OP makes the claim that the law doesn't apply, but I skimmed it already and came to the conclusion it could apply and it will be up to the courts to make the precedent.

Part 5 is too broadly written: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/part/5

'internet services' is extremely broad and could include apple's own appstore, icloud services, maybe even their browser could be considered software acting on behalf of a provider.

Now of course they could be stretching, but OFCOM has their own overview that digs into just how broad they consider the legislation: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/onli...

With all this being said, I do think Apple probably could have fought it and even if they had to leave the UK market, they'd still be fine. They rely on China and South Korea to manufacture their devices so they would not be fine without these markets.

Re: New iPhone age and identity checks restrict internet freedom in the UK

#30

Post by cornholio »

steve-atx-7600 wrote: post #3

Could there not be a reason that Apple made this choice involving their own legal risk? Sometimes what a law actually requires is up to what happens in court in the future.

It's probably related to the fact that Apple doesn't see itself selling devices, you don't really buy and own the phone. You rent a device from them and the Apple account is the doorway to that subscription plan.
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