Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 4
Apple Enforces Texas 18-Plus Account Checks, Making Digital ID a New Verification Tool
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 4

Apple Enforces Texas 18-Plus Account Checks, Making Digital ID a New Verification Tool

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 4

Summary

  • June 4 marked Apple’s rollout of Texas-specific age rules: new Apple Account holders must verify they are 18 or older to access some services and account actions.
  • Under the law, users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group, while adults can satisfy the new check with Wallet’s Digital ID.
  • Texas becomes the first U.S. state where Apple supports Digital ID for age verification, extending a feature Apple first launched for TSA checkpoints and later expanded in select markets.
  • Wallet users can create a Digital ID by adding Driver’s License and ID Cards, selecting Digital ID, and authenticating with a U.S. passport.
  • Apple’s support document says the rules apply to new accounts created in Texas on or after June 4, suggesting other states could adopt the same model if similar laws pass.

Insights

With mandatory digital IDs, are we sacrificing online privacy for a false sense of security for children?
Texas and the EU are building digital walls. Is this the end of the open internet as we know it?