Apple Tightens iOS App Policy in Japan to Protect Children's Safety

JAKARTA - Apple announced major changes to its iOS system in Japan to comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). These changes are said to have an impact on children.

In the changes announced by Apple, iOS in Japan will now allow the presence of alternative app stores in addition to the App Store. In addition, developers can also use payment methods outside of Apple's official ecosystem or from third parties.

Apple warned its users that opening this access could create a new danger gap. Children are feared to be more exposed to online fraud because the standards of supervision outside the App Store are different from those applied by Apple.

Through its official release, Apple confirmed that they have made great efforts to minimize the negative impact on underage users. They are working with Japanese regulators to maintain device security.

"MSCA's requirements for alternative app markets and app payments open up new avenues for malware, fraud, and privacy and security risks," Apple wrote in an official statement, quoted on Friday, December 19.

Apple is now banning the use of direct links to external websites for transactions, specifically for the 'Kids' app category on the App Store. This step is taken to prevent fraud schemes that target young users.

For users under the age of 18, the system will require a parental supervision feature on every alternative payment method. Parents or guardians must provide permission manually before purchases can be processed by the application.

Apple also imposed stricter rules for users under the age of 13. Apps aimed at this age group are not allowed to link transactions to websites outside the app.