Apple’s New iPhone Update Is Restricting Internet Freedom in the UK — Big Brother Watch

iOS 26.4 introduces mandatory age and identity checks at the operating system level for UK iPhone users, automatically enabling web content filtering and AI-powered communication safety tools for all users by default. Adults must verify their age via credit card, driver's licence, or specific ID cards to restore normal internet access — excluding millions who lack these documents. Big Brother Watch argues this move is not required by UK law, disproportionately restricts internet freedom, risks setting a dangerous precedent for OS-level identity enforcement globally, and was introduced without adequate transparency in Apple's update notes. The organization is calling on Apple to make these controls opt-in rather than mandatory.