Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Kids Category and COPPA-Aligned Child Privacy Requirements

High severity
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What it is

Apps designed for children must not show third-party ads, must not send children's data to outside companies, and must use parental permission prompts when collecting personal information from minors.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Children using apps in the Kids Category are protected from third-party data sharing and advertising tracking, but parents should verify that apps targeting their children are correctly categorized in the Kids Category to ensure these protections apply.

How other platforms handle this

Gemini Medium

Gemini is a global business. As a result, Personal Information may be stored and processed in any country where we have operations, Affiliates, third party partners or where we engage service providers. Gemini, its Affiliates, third party partners, or service providers may transfer, store, and proce...

Midjourney Medium

We may share Your personal information with these parties in order to provide the Services to You on our behalf, monitor and analyze the use of our Services, contact You, and for other purposes stated in the Agreement. This may also include third party analytics and advertising partners that use coo...

Uber Medium

Drivers and delivery people can exercise data rights including the right to access personal data held about them, the right to request correction of inaccurate data, the right to request deletion of their data (subject to legal retention obligations), the right to object to processing, and the right...

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

These rules are designed to protect children's privacy and safety online, and failure to comply can expose developers to significant regulatory penalties under COPPA and equivalent laws globally.

View original clause language
Apps in the Kids Category must not include third-party advertising or analytics. You should also pay particular attention to privacy laws around the world relating to the collection of data from children online. Parental gates should be used whenever your app asks for input of personal information from minors. Apps must not transmit data about a minor to third parties.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision directly implements COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §6501 et seq.) requirements, enforced by the FTC with civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation per day. It also engages GDPR Art. 8 (age of digital consent, varying by member state from 13-16), UK Children's Code (Age Appropriate Design Code), and California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273). The provision's reference to 'privacy laws around the world relating to the collection of data from children' creates a broad compliance obligation without specifying a definitive standard.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    COPPA enforcement authority rests with the FTC, which has primary jurisdiction over children's online privacy violations by app developers distributing through the App Store.
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Applicable regulations

BIPA
Illinois, USA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
FCRA
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
GLBA
United States Federal
HIPAA
United States Federal
UK GDPR
United Kingdom

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002420
Document ID
CA-D-00025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
877541265fefdbebabcd1e30fe9651433f6b1dd3064ee4d811f9f9918e043f98
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Apple | Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines | Record: CA-P-002420
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:15:42 UTC | SHA-256: 877541265fefdbeb…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/apple/apple-app-store-review-guidelines/kids-category-and-coppa-aligned-child-privacy-requirements/
Accessed: April 28, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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