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

bigbrotherwatch.org.uk

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131–140 of 160 posts

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

#131

Post by subscribed »

guidedlight wrote: post #36

I would rather prove my age to Apple than [insert random website]. I think that’s what Apple is banking on. They sell privacy as a feature of their products, and I’m grateful for that.

They made it mandatory already, while still not being required to do so.

It would be exceptionally simple to NOT make it mandatory and automatic, and to allow a parent (to make Apple's lie more like actual concern) easy to flip on.

From what I see it also doesn't distinguish between, say, 11 year old and 17 year old. These two ages have vastly different.....development levels. Just to put it in perspective: 16 year old can legally drink alcohol in a pub, can literally have sex with anyone without anyone getting into trouble but apple decides they need to be maintained like primary school child?

I know some of my kids' classmates are barred by their parents from attending any sex ed/relationship classes. Today Apple proudly joins the most backwards and restrictive sects, just because (no, it's not the law).

I don't access any age-restricted content as far as I know, I refused to bend over to Bluesky and instead use alternative services to access my DMs.

Like, come on. That's a very hostile, unnecessary move from Apple, likely a secret agreement with the government of the UK.

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

#132

Post by subscribed »

mlindner wrote: post #17
stavros wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No it doesn't. The UK government instituted age checks for social media, Apple didn't like the UK government and enabled age checks for the OS, wanting to blame the government for it. It's done this sort of thing before.

Because social media is embedded into many apps.

And why should they make it a problem of EVERYONE (primarily adults) using ANY app?

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

#133

Post by subscribed »

sensanaty wrote: post #109

It's funny, I'm less worried about supposed "adult" content than I am "age-appropriate" content that these platforms push onto kids. Anyone remember those creepy as fuck Spiderman Elsa videos pushed on youtube kids? Or hell, even "normal" content like MrBeast to me is infinitely more damaging to a kid's brain than porn or whatever other thing this policy bans. I'd much rather my kids regularly browse /b/ rather than…

Precisely. Yet in 2026 it's easier to get blocked by the os than to block the harmful content on YouTube (eg shorts).

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

#134

Post by enoint »

yoz-y wrote: post #86

I think this is trying to fix the wrong problem. As a soon to be parent I am not that worried about supposedly adult content, but I am genuinely concerned about peer pressure into joining various social media platforms and 4 year old with phones streaming cocomelon to my kid.

I have older kids. I worry about creeps masquerading as teenagers.

On the other hand, if this moral panic reaches a point where manipulative political content is forbidden for some age bracket, I see a benefit for older people.

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

#135

Post by _3u10 »

0x3f wrote: post #91
_3u10 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can get you residency in a number of countries in about 30 to 60 days. It’s remarkably easy to change countries an American friend of mine has over 15 residencies leading to over 10 passports. No citizenship by investment non sense either.

> 15 residencies leading to over 10 passports Unlikely, considering most places require you to fulfill the granted residency by actually physically being there. And are these even places you'd want to live?

only in the global north who want to you to spend half your time slaving for them. in the countries with privacy rights, and where slavery remains outlawed, the residency requirements are pretty minimal.

would i want to live there? yes. most definitely.

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

#136

Post by [deleted] »

subscribed wrote: post #117
_3u10 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only western country left is Paraguay, maybe Israel too. “The west” is now the global north, it’s mostly 3rd world countries dying of old age and going bankrupt in the process.

It's weird to see a North-African country let by a man investigated for war crimes and genocide, country that recently passed death sentence laws only for the indigenous population only, suggested as the last bastion of the western civilization? I'm very happy my country is not bundled together with.....that.

[deleted]

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

#137

Post by [deleted] »

subscribed wrote: post #117
_3u10 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only western country left is Paraguay, maybe Israel too. “The west” is now the global north, it’s mostly 3rd world countries dying of old age and going bankrupt in the process.

It's weird to see a North-African country let by a man investigated for war crimes and genocide, country that recently passed death sentence laws only for the indigenous population only, suggested as the last bastion of the western civilization? I'm very happy my country is not bundled together with.....that.

[deleted]

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

#138

Post by boysenberry »

zimpenfish wrote: post #110
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>According to that article if you have a long-standing Apple account ... I can confirm that is the case.

Finally This is the third (or fourth) update with this age check and the only one that doesn't enforce credit card (I don't have one), driving licence (I don't have one) or national ID card (I don't have one) as the only methods of verification. Absolute shambles of a rollout (and I'm hoping it was UKGOV requirements, not just Apple being braindead.)

For me, a 12+ year old account wasn't good enough.

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

#139

Post by neya »

tomhow wrote: post #126
neya wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, are you also going to do anything about the top comment being fake news? It literally says something completely that is not true. Minus the "sneering", I think the validity of my comment remains.

Please don’t try to deflect from your own disrespectful conduct with this kind of “are you going to...?” goading. We don’t moderate on the basis of such charged qualitative judgments as “fake news”. We uphold the guidelines. If someone is wrong, point out how they are wrong, in the conversational style the guidelines clearly call for. Doing it in this sneering and hostile way only weakens your point and trashes this…

[flagged]

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

#140

Post by pixel_popping »

subscribed wrote: post #120
Fizzadar wrote: post #49

One silver lining this is finally going to push me to switch to a dedicated camera and some niche unrestricted Linux or graphene device as a phone. Goodbye iPhone. (I say this as someone with an Apple account old enough to auto “qualify”, how lucky).

If you value security and privacy on the phone there's really no alternative to GrapheneOS or iPhone (comparable security, worse privacy). It's pixel only at the moment, new Motorola devices expected in 2027.

LineageOS with no google services is fine too, most users don't actually need 90% of the Apps they are using.
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