Call for evidence: Statutory reports on age assurance and app stores

This is a call for evidence for two reports that Ofcom must produce under the Act about the use and effectiveness of age assurance; and the use of app stores by children.

We are seeking evidence and input on the following:

• how providers of regulated services have used age assurance to comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act, how effective it has been for that purpose, and whether there are factors that have prevented or hindered the effective use of age assurance, such as cost or user privacy; and,
  
  
• what role app stores play in children encountering content that is harmful to them by means of regulated apps which the app stores make available; assess the use and effectiveness of age assurance currently used by app stores; and explore whether children’s safety online would be better protected by the greater use of age assurance or other measures at app store level.

Responding to this consultation

Please submit responses using the response form no later than 5pm 1st December 2025.