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  "path": "/t/apple-forces-uk-iphone-age-checks-in-ios-26-4/36571#post_1",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-26T00:56:01.000Z",
  "site": "https://discuss.privacyguides.net",
  "tags": [
    "Reclaim The Net – 25 Mar 26",
    "Apple Forces UK iPhone Age Checks in iOS 26.4"
  ],
  "textContent": "Reclaim The Net – 25 Mar 26\n\n### Apple Forces UK iPhone Age Checks in iOS 26.4\n\nEvery iPhone in Britain is now a checkpoint, and the price of entry for many is their ID or credit card.\n\nEst. reading time: 3 minutes\n\n**TL;DR:**\n\n> **With iOS 26.4, Apple has turned every iPhone in the UK into an identity checkpoint. The update, released March 24, requires all UK users to confirm they’re 18 or older before accessing certain features and services on their Apple Account. Apple checks whether your account already has a credit card linked or whether the account has existed long enough to establish you as an adult.**\n>\n> **For many existing users, the process is essentially automatic. For everyone else, the options narrow quickly: link a credit card, scan a government-issued photo ID, or accept that your account defaults to teen restrictions, with Apple’s Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features switched on across all browsers and messaging apps and FaceTime, monitoring communications.**\n\nThis is obviously terrible news, but I take some relief in knowing that users with relatively old account will hopefully not have to go through ID verification. **I also wonder if Apple can tell the difference between a credit card and debit card?** I suspect they can’t. If memory serves me right, in the US only credit cards can be used online. Or least it was like that for a very long time. Whereas in Europe VISA debit cards could always be used online. You never needed a credit card. And teenagers can have checking accounts.\n\nI hope that when you give your credit card once, and then only use gift cards to shop in the app store, Apple won’t ask you to verify your ID again.\n\nAlso, Apple allows you to change your name in your Apple ID profile. **If my name on my Apple ID is**Max Cob** , but my legal name is **Maxine Cobbleton** , will they reject my ID verification?**\n\n**What if I have a middle name? I’ve never shared my middle name with Apple. And what if the name on my credit card is not my name?** Virtual Card providers allow you to create cards for family members, and it doesn’t need to have their name.\n\nThe fact that we a losing this fight does not give me hope for our fight against digital ID.",
  "title": "Apple Forces UK iPhone Age Checks in iOS 26.4"
}