App Stores' Compliance with Age Assurance Measures and Enforcement Actions against Non-compliant Stores

35 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information given that designated application stores were required to implement age assurance measures by 31 March 2026 (a) whether all designated application stores have met this deadline; (b) what enforcement action will be taken against non-compliant stores; and (c) what timeline is envisaged to extend equivalent requirements to designated social media services.

Mrs Josephine Teo: From 1 April 2026, designated app distribution services, also known as app stores, are required to implement age assurance measures to prevent users younger than 18 from accessing and downloading age-inappropriate apps. Thus far, all five designated app stores have fully implemented age assurance measures.

The Government is looking to enhance its safeguards for designated social media services, which include age assurance requirements. We have started engaging designated social media services and will provide an update when ready.