Apple will require all iOS developers to disclose whether their software includes dating tools or real-world location tracking, applying mandatory 18+ App Store age ratings to adult connections and romantic artificial intelligence companions. The rules take effect on 16 November, with a final compliance deadline set for 12 January 2027.
Key points
- Apple is adding mandatory declarations for dating, romantic AI companions and real-world location sharing in App Store Connect.
- Apps offering dating features between real people or romantic virtual companions will automatically receive an 18+ rating.
- Developers must submit the disclosures during updates and questionnaire changes, with all apps required to comply by January 2027.
- Regional rules such as Brazil’s statutory ratings will enforce specific local age thresholds, including 16+ for location sharing.
New disclosures in App Store Connect
Starting 16 November, developers submitting or updating applications must complete two new content declarations within the standard App Store Connect questionnaire. In a developer update, Apple detailed the additions, which isolate real-world location tracking and intimate interaction features for regulatory scrutiny.
The first declaration covers Shared Location. Apple defines this as any feature that shares a user’s real-world physical location with another person or group. The second declaration, Dating and Relationships, covers features that enable dating or relationship connections between real people or with an artificial intelligence companion that engages in romantic or sexual interaction.
Apple stated that any application flagged for dating and relationships will automatically receive an 18+ minimum age rating across the digital storefront. That restriction applies regardless of whether the interactions take place between consenting human users or involve conversational bots programmed for romantic roleplay.
Stricter scrutiny on AI companions
The explicit inclusion of virtual companions marks a deliberate policy shift towards generative conversational software. Over the past two years, mobile stores have experienced an influx of conversational AI software designed to mimic personal, emotional or sexual relationships. While some platforms marketed these tools to broad audiences, regulators have raised repeated concerns about child safety and emotional manipulation.
By classifying romantic AI chatbots under the same category as traditional adult dating services, Apple removes ambiguity for app review teams. Developers can no longer present romantic character simulators as general entertainment if the character engages in romantic or sexual dialogue. If an app provides emotional or romantic companionship, it falls under the 18+ mandate.
Location sharing will face varied regional treatment rather than a blanket adult rating. Apple noted that shared location features might not alter the minimum age rating in every country, as many navigation, family safety and sports tracking tools rely on real-time coordinates for practical purposes.
Local rules and regulatory pressure
The changes reflect growing legal pressure on app store operators to enforce verifiable age gating. Apple started expanding its self-reported age-rating system in 2025 to anticipate stricter child protection laws in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The platform has faced intense scrutiny from regulators worldwide over how it governs third-party software, including earlier app store penalties in South Korea and the European Union.
In Brazil, statutory requirements will impose rigid classifications immediately. Brazilian law requires an A16 rating for any application that includes location sharing and an A18 rating for apps with dating and relationship features. Apple confirmed that Brazilian store listings will reflect these thresholds automatically upon declaration.
Brazilian authorities offer an exception mechanism for specific family utilities. Developers who believe their location-sharing software qualifies for a lower classification, such as apps designed specifically for parents to monitor their children, must apply directly to Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security to request a formal rating exemption.
Deadlines for developers
The rollout follows a phased timeline over the next fourteen months. From 16 November, any developer submitting an app update or altering their questionnaire in App Store Connect must provide the new disclosures before their build can proceed to review.
Developers who do not update their applications immediately will still have to act. Apple has set a hard cutoff date of 12 January 2027, by which point every existing listing on the App Store must have the shared location and relationship declarations completed.
Apps that fail to complete the required questionnaire by the January 2027 deadline risk removal from sale or blocked updates until their records match the new disclosure standard.
