Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneserecently met with Tim Cook at Apple Park, in a meeting that highlighted Apple's recognition of Australia's leadership in cybersecurity. Albanese said Apple recognized Australia's leadership in the area, noting that the tech industry can compete on the basis of security credentials, not just ease of use.
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This meeting comes at a time when Australia has imposed strict regulations on online safety, including an age restriction on social media.
Australia has taken an approach aimed at protecting young users from the dangers of the internet by imposing a minimum age for social media use. The policy, which came into effect on December 10, 2025, covers a range of popular platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others. Penalties for companies that fail to comply with the new regulations can reach up to A$49.5 million, while a new bill introduced in June proposes doubling that amount and expanding the regulator’s investigative powers.
Enforcing these regulations has proven challenging, with tests conducted in July showing that nine out of ten platforms accepted a self-declared age of 16 without proof. This highlights the need for more stringent age verification mechanisms, something Australia is working to achieve through partnerships with tech companies such as Apple.
For Apple, the changes were more recent. As of September 9, age checks on the App Store in Australia became law, with the same exposure to penalties of A$49.5 million. Apple now automatically assesses a user's age for downloads from the App Store in Australia, blocking content that is not suitable for minors, such as R18+ titles and simulated gambling.
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Additionally, it has provided developers with a Declared Age Range API, which allows apps to be better tailored to age requirements.
This policy change is significant, as Apple's long-standing position, shared with Google, has been that age verification should be done at the device level, not in the App Store. Apple had previously lobbied against Texas' App Store Accountability Act, with Tim Cook directly contacting Governor Greg Abbott to express the company's concerns.
Albanese's meeting with Cook is the second time the Australian Prime Minister has publicly portrayed Cook as an ally of the ban. In June, Albanese said Cook had personally called him and that Apple's revamped child safety features were inspired by Australian law, although Apple itself made no mention of Australia that week.
Apple's recognition of Australia's leadership does not necessarily mean that the country's policy is considered world-leading by the company itself. The phrase "world-leading" is Albanese's for the ban, not one attributed to Cook. However, support from a tech giant like Apple is important for Australia as it seeks to establish itself as a model for online security.
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This meeting highlights the importance of collaboration between governments and technology companies to address the challenges of the digital age. Australia, through its leadership in the field of internet safety, seeks to create a safer online environment for its users, while Apple, with its new policies, shows that technology companies can meet the demands for increased security and user protection.
