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Apple UK Age Verification Chaos: Users Face Failed Scans, Rejected Passports, and Forced Content Filters
A 67-year-old retired teacher who's owned Apple products since 2009 now has her web browsing filtered because she pays for everything with a debit card.
TL;DR
- Apple's iOS 26.4 age verification system is not working for UK users without credit cards or photocard driving licenses.
- The system was implemented without warning or explanation, impacting millions of UK iPhone users.
- Users unable to verify their age face restrictions, including content filters on websites and scanning of images/videos in messages.
- Examples include a retired teacher who uses debit cards (rejected by Apple) and individuals without driving licenses or passports (which are also not accepted).
- Older paper driving licenses are also not compatible with the system.
- Apple's justification citing the UK's Online Safety Act is inaccurate, as the law does not require device-level age verification.
- Users who had automatic updates enabled had no option to opt out.
- Even users with valid documents report buggy scan failures.