Apple's New iPhone Update Is Restricting Internet Freedom in the UK
A recent iPhone software update is quietly changing how millions of people in the UK access the internet — and most people don’t yet realise the scale of what’s happened.
With the release of iOS 26.4, Apple has introduced mandatory age and identity checks at the operating system level. In simple terms, your iPhone may now require you to prove your age before you can freely browse the web or use certain apps.
The only other countries where Apple has imposed similar demands are South Korea and Singapore – countries without a fully free internet.
This is a serious and unprecedented step — one that risks undermining privacy, freedom of expression, and equal access to information.
We’ve written to Apple to demand they drop this ID check urgently.
Under iOS 26.4, Apple has automatically switched on: