Apple does not intentionally collect personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, and states it will delete such data if collected inadvertently, while offering parental control tools through Screen Time and Family Sharing.
This analysis describes what Apple App Store's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
Children's online privacy is subject to strict legal requirements in the US and internationally, and the App Store's role as a distribution platform for children's apps means Apple's age verification and parental consent mechanisms are particularly significant for families.
Parents should use Apple's Family Sharing and Screen Time features to manage their children's Apple ID accounts and app access. If you believe a child under 13 has created an Apple account without parental consent, you can contact Apple to request data deletion.
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"We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13, or under the applicable age of digital consent in their country of residence, without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that we have collected personal data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information. Apple provides parental controls through Screen Time and Family Sharing.— Excerpt from Apple App Store's Apple Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: COPPA in the US requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13 and imposes strict notice, consent, and deletion obligations on operators. The UK Age Appropriate Design Code imposes additional protections for users under 18. GDPR and national implementations set varying ages of digital consent across EU member states ranging from 13 to 16. Apple's role as an App Store operator creates platform-level COPPA obligations regarding apps directed at children. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for organizations publishing children's apps through the App Store. Apple's policy addresses its own COPPA compliance, but app developers who distribute children's apps via Apple are independently responsible for their own COPPA and GDPR Article 8 compliance. The FTC actively enforces COPPA against app platforms and developers. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US COPPA applies to children under 13. GDPR Article 8 applies in the EU with member-state variation on the age of digital consent. The UK Age Appropriate Design Code applies broadly to services likely to be accessed by users under 18. California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act adds further obligations for California-accessible services. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Developers publishing children's directed apps on the App Store must comply with Apple's Kids App guidelines as well as independent COPPA and GDPR obligations. Procurement teams evaluating Apple educational products should assess whether Apple's Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act documentation is available for school deployments. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Organizations operating educational or family-directed services should assess whether Apple's age verification mechanisms are sufficient for their regulatory obligations under COPPA, GDPR Article 8, and the UK Age Appropriate Design Code. FTC COPPA safe harbor program participation may be relevant for app developers.
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Children's online privacy is subject to strict legal requirements in the US and internationally, and the App Store's role as a distribution platform for children's apps means Apple's age verification and parental consent mechanisms are particularly significant for families.
Parents should use Apple's Family Sharing and Screen Time features to manage their children's Apple ID accounts and app access. If you believe a child under 13 has created an Apple account without parental consent, you can contact Apple to request data deletion.
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