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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Zarobi@aussie.zone to c/privacy@lemmy.world

Apple iOS now requires age verification to access websites it deems 18+. Not even using another browser like Firefox works, it's blocked at the OS level.

I was putting off switching to Graphene or e/os until prices improve, but looks like my hand is forced.

Edit: VPN doesn't even work because Apple knows your GPS location. I haven't tried location spoofing yet because that's a bit more annoying to setup.

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[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 76 points 6 days ago

FYI, there are no alternative browsers on iOS. Every single one is Safari with a skin, even Firefox. This is also a requirement by Apple, and one of the many reasons why I'll never own an iPhone. It's my device; I should be allowed to use any browser I want, install anything I want.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago

What the fuck? How is that legal.

[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 24 points 6 days ago

It’s not…in the EU. So they lift the restriction there and there only. It’s clearly not a technical limitation, just greed.

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[-] Ripley_Tripley@lemmus.org 6 points 5 days ago

Yep, thats one reason why i went to e/OS. Never went back.

[-] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

e/os here. A few months in on a Fairphone. Very happy so far

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How does that work? Do you have any links with more information?

I use Orion browser on an iPhone. I'm not sure what to search to find info about how this all works on that browser. All my searches are returning are sites that compare features between the two. I'm not a tech person (unless you ask non-Millennials), and this is the first time I've heard that every iOS browser is actually Safari in disguise. I need to know more!

[-] IMALlama@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago

https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/06/17/apples-webkit-performance-tax-leaves-ios-browsers-stuck-in-the-slow-lane-says-microsoft/5257384

due to Apple's platform rules, every browser that runs on iOS is WebKit-based, so there are few opportunities for competitive differentiation outside of interface elements.

"Even in the EU and Japan, where Apple is now required to allow browser vendors to use their own engines, the barriers it has put in place ensure browser vendors are prevented from porting their own engines to iOS. Given that Apple has now had more than two years to produce a compliant solution, the European Commission needs to open a specification proceeding to instruct Apple, in precise terms, how these barriers must be removed."

[-] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

While I still don't fully understand what it means by "engines," that certainly explains why it takes fucking forever for webpages to load on my phone.

Thank you for providing more info!

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[-] Cypher@aussie.zone 104 points 6 days ago

This isn’t required under Australian law, Apple can fuck right off.

[-] AppropriateLynx457@piefed.social 41 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Yeah these guys are overcomplying and promoting censorship. Never seen a big tech company take this stance. Fuck them. Post Covid big tech is shady as.

All Apple had to do was age verify their App Store. And on that they had the nerve to force it a month before quietly releasing a on device facial age estimation option rather than just rely on id or credit card. Forcing many to use id/credit card when esafety would have been lenient enough to wait.

[-] Thorned_Rose@sh.itjust.works 11 points 6 days ago

Big tech has always been shady. Lockdowns just provided an easy powergrab and the means yo take the power without having to hide it.

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[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 44 points 6 days ago

How have we allowed this. Theres no going back ever. Welcome to dystopia.

[-] TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works 41 points 6 days ago

That's why people need to be against censorship, in principle. If people's only objection is that it 'isn't implemented correctly', people will just try and they again to implement it "correctly". We need to squash it down from the start.

Censorship just hurts marginalised youth, especially trans youth since HRT is so age sensitive. And you cannot trust parents to safeguard their kids, no, just because you gave birth to someone does not mean you know what's best for them, crazy ik

[-] ThatGuyNamedZeus@feddit.org 57 points 1 week ago

The only people who can control any apple device are the people working the back end of Apple's ecosystem

Did you know they already did that in the UK?...even though they weren't obligated to.

You can't VPN to the UK, Australia or any of the EU countries anymore because of this crap. And in case anyone hasn't figured it out yet, it's not about protecting kids from anything. It's about unmasking everyone online and the next step will be digital ID and CBDC

[-] noob@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago

What is apple’s endgame of unmasking everyone online? Better ad placement? Hardly seems worth it.

Or does apple really have interest in allowing governments around the world to track and identify people who view certain content or say certain things?

Like how does this benefit apple?

[-] Xatolos@reddthat.com 3 points 5 days ago

Better ad placement.

Apples ad department hasnt been a very good money maker, so Apple has been doing everything they can to just block competition on Apple devices to make sure that they could be the best ad company for Apple users. They block all they can from other companies but then track the hell out of you so they can serve ads to you that are more valuable to marketers.

They get away with it mostly by claiming they are protecting their users privacy, when its really to block competition. Its quite an eye opener when you read all of Apples privacy policies.

[-] ThatGuyNamedZeus@feddit.org 14 points 6 days ago

it benefits them because they get to continue having customers in dictatorships like china, the UK, australia and the EU.

they're bending over and pulling that fascist dick up their asses so they can keep operating in as many countries as possible.

Before you say it. I'll ask this...What do YOU call it when you get arrested for words that aren't threats?

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[-] JigglySackles@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Thank Australia first. Apple is just complying with their rules at this point. Not that they mind imo, but still, it comes from the government overreach.

Edit: Reading some other comments that I might be wrong about the laws. Still something to bring to your lawmakers as an issue needing addressed. Apple effectively telling the Australian people what they can and cannot see.

Though it does look like it might stem from the social media restrictions put in place.

[-] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

Australian restrictions for social media and pornography do not require OS level enforcement, it applies to the sites to restrict access. OS level enforcement has come from several US state legislation and EU/UK push. Google/ Android will likely be rolling it out soon (this is part of Google enforcing stricter app store developer requirements) and technically Windows and Mac should be pushing it at the desktop level.

[-] NovaVeles@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Ewwww, do not like that! But also even if it doesn't originate here, Australia is the test bed for this junk to see if it flys with the people. So far most of us have just laid down in front of the steam roller for "SECURITY!!!!?!"!!"

[-] Harrk@lemmy.world 35 points 6 days ago

I got this same page when trying to connect to a WiFi hotspot (In the UK). Now I’m planning a migration plan for the family away from iOS.

Most people won’t care but for me this is where it crosses a line.

[-] Zarobi@aussie.zone 26 points 6 days ago

Yeah… this is the first time I've felt like someone reached into my device and said "no, fuck you." No tricks or traps work, because it's operating system level bullshit.

The thing I paid like $1600AUD for a few years ago is no longer my property; the terms have been changed retroactively. It makes me quite angry, actually.

[-] eleitl@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 days ago

It never was your property. Which is why I don't use devices with proprietary OS.

Real question is, who in their right mind uses anything from Apple?

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[-] thatOneGuy@aussie.zone 4 points 4 days ago

I had this pop up personally, thankfully my Apple account itself is old enough to vote - so that was the extent of the age verification.

Still doesn’t bode well for younger generations though.

[-] TrackenDaKracken@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago
[-] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

Those AI thumbnails are as offensive as fuck, I'm gonna block that shit on all my devices

[-] Zarobi@aussie.zone 5 points 5 days ago

Maybe Apple was protecting me all along lol - this site isn't safe even for adults

[-] modus@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Looks like Australia might be doing OP a favor in this case.

[-] HereIAm@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

Never have I ever paid my eyes upon a website so catered to boomers.

[-] WongKaKui@piefed.ca 20 points 6 days ago

How does graphene bypass it if they require a weird proprietary api in the future.

Like imagine a government mandated ISP-level protocol that scans your internet packets for a Apple, Google, or Microsoft (or any of the "government approved" corporates) signature before allowing your packets to go through.

👀

[-] Zarobi@aussie.zone 23 points 6 days ago

Depending on how that is implemented, it would just spawn a second "underground" internet you must opt into. Personally, I would just abandon mainstream internet if that happens

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[-] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 18 points 6 days ago

Or, enjoy your Linux PC, or any PC, while you still can, if it gets to the point where thin clients tied to the state cloud are the only thing you can use.

[-] eleitl@lemmy.zip 7 points 5 days ago

Use legally, you mean. The street will find a way.

This is my fear and I think it might be a real possibility

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[-] cqgbp@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago

Why you need to be over 18 for for that site? It's comedy and not pornography.

Did they also ban news websites or is that brainwashing allowed?

Try searching on startpage.com and from there click on visit in anonymous view ..

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[-] altphoto@lemmy.today 7 points 5 days ago

Toss that shit out the window!

[-] pseudo@jlai.lu 10 points 6 days ago

I wanted to rewatch a theater play filmed in the 80's on YouTube. This time it ask for my birth date to confirm I'm an adult. I clicked the button wondering which birth date I could have used on this account then it crashed. Tried thrice more, crashed each time.

We living in a decade where the quality of internet service decreased in a obvious way. At the same time, we should have more restriction and start paying for it. Big tech should at least be consistent.

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this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2026
337 points (98.8% liked)

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