The change started on February 24, 2026, as the company also expanded its age-verification tools for developers in Brazil and in two U.S. states, Utah and Louisiana.

The update affects how age categories are shared between users and app developers. Apple said it is rolling out new features through its Declared Age Range API, which is now available in beta.

The tool allows developers to request a user’s age category without accessing personal data such as a date of birth.

In Brazil, developers can use the updated API to obtain a user’s age category. The age category will only be shared if the user, or a parent or guardian where relevant, agrees, while API will also return a signal from the user’s device about the method of age assurance.

Apple confirmed that, from February 24, 2026, it will block downloads of apps rated 18+ in Australia, Brazil and Singapore unless users are confirmed to be adults through reasonable methods.

The App Store will carry out that confirmation automatically. However, Apple noted that developers may still have separate legal duties to verify users under local law.

In Brazil, developers who identify their apps as containing loot boxes through Apple’s age rating questionnaire will see their app ratings updated to 18+ on the Brazil storefront. Lawmakers in the country have spoken about gambling-like features in games.

In the United States, new regulations will take effect in two states. For users with new Apple accounts in Utah from 6 May 2026, and in Louisiana from 1 July 2026, age categories will be shared with developers’ apps when requested through the Declared Age Range API.

Apple said it has expanded its existing tools to help developers meet legal requirements in both states.

These tools include the Declared Age Range API, the Significant Change API under PermissionKit, a new age rating property type in StoreKit, and App Store Server Notifications.

Apple said: “New signals are now available through the Declared Age Range API, including whether age-related regulatory requirements apply to the user and if the user is required to share their age range.

“The API will also let you know if you need to get a parent or guardian’s permission for significant app updates for a child.”

Developers can use the API to present important update notifications to adults in Utah and Louisiana through what Apple calls the Significant Update Action, which remains in beta.

When releasing a significant update, developers must follow Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and provide a clear description of the changes.

Apple previously worked to meet similar age-assurance requirements in Texas in October last year. It later paused parts of that plan in December after the state law faced a court challenge.

Governments in several countries have introduced stricter age-assurance rules aimed at limiting minors’ access to certain digital services. Apple’s latest changes adjust how its platforms, including iOS, iPadOS and macOS, handle age ratings, permissions and account signals in response to those laws.

For developers, the changes mean closer attention to local regulations. In Brazil, game makers that include loot boxes must now accept an automatic 18+ rating.

In Australia, Brazil and Singapore, 18+ apps will not download until adult status is confirmed. In Utah and Louisiana, age categories will flow directly to apps when requested, provided the user meets the new account conditions.

Apple said the updated tools are designed to give developers a way to meet legal obligations without collecting sensitive personal information.

The change, which restricts how many messages can be sent without receiving a reply, will enable Meta to protect user experience while expanding WhatsApp’s business ecosystem.

Over the years, WhatsApp has evolved from a personal messaging app into a complex communication platform connecting friends, families, communities, and businesses. But with that growth has come an influx of spam, from unsolicited marketing blasts to cold outreach messages. 

The company is now testing new policies that will count every message sent to non-responsive contacts against a monthly quota.

This means that if a user or business sends multiple messages to someone who doesn’t reply, for instance, after meeting at a conference, those messages will count toward their limit. 

Once that threshold is close to being reached, WhatsApp will warn the sender with a pop-up notification showing how many messages they have left before hitting the cap.

Although WhatsApp has not revealed the exact number of messages permitted, it confirmed to TechCrunch that the test is being rolled out across multiple countries in the coming weeks. 

According to the company, average users are unlikely to hit this limit. The measure is aimed primarily at those who “blast messages and spam people,” disrupting the experience of regular users.

Personally, I understand why this change is necessary. My WhatsApp inbox usually seems like an endless wall of unread messages, many from unknown contacts or business accounts I never interacted with. This is a common experience in countries like India, where WhatsApp doubles as both a personal and business communication tool.

The new “Messaging Limit Framework,” which officially took effect on October 7, 2025, will apply limits per phone number, WhatsApp now enforces a single cap across entire business accounts. This closes the loophole where companies could bypass restrictions by using multiple numbers. The rule applies to all outreach, from broadcasts to follow-ups, targeting users who haven’t responded.

At the same time, WhatsApp is testing a monthly cap on broadcast messages, accompanied by a new “Broadcast Management” dashboard. This tool allows businesses to track how many messages they have sent and how many remain for the month, designed to promote more targeted, consent-based communication rather than mass marketing.

Behind these changes is Meta’s focus on monetising WhatsApp through its business messaging services, projected to generate $10 billion in annual revenue by 2026. The WhatsApp Business API is at the heart of this strategy, giving enterprises tools to engage customers while still maintaining trust and user satisfaction.

To complement the limits, WhatsApp has expanded user management, giving people more say over who can message them. These include:

• “Unsubscribe” buttons within business chats
• Easy-access “Report” and “Block” shortcuts
• Labels identifying verified business accounts

These updates are especially important in markets like India, Brazil, and Nigeria, where WhatsApp is usually the main channel for both personal and business communication.

With billions of users and increasing business activity on the platform, WhatsApp’s new approach comes as a balancing act, protecting people from spam while ensuring companies can still reach customers who genuinely want to hear from them.

Speaking during a discussion with President Tinubu in Brazil, the SEC DG described the ISA Act 2025 as one of Africa’s most comprehensive legal frameworks for capital markets, which will ensure equitable wealth distribution through strong investor protection and regulatory clarity.

President Tinubu praised the growth of Nigeria’s capital market over the past two years of his administration, highlighting the rise in market capitalisation and heightened trading activity that have opened up greater investment opportunities for both local and foreign investors.

President Tinubu lauded the NGX Board and SEC leadership for their commitment, affirming his administration’s unwavering resolve to elevate Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.

“Nigeria’s markets must be a trusted engine of enterprise and prosperity. My government will continue to pursue reforms that unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation, so that our economy works for every Nigerian,” he stated.

Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, NGX group chairman, expressed gratitude for the President’s bold reforms. He urged the fast-tracking of the listing of major state-owned enterprises, such as NNPC Limited, and the introduction of tax incentives to sustain the capital market growth.

Temi Popoola, Group CEO of NGX Group, emphasised the importance of positioning Nigeria’s Exchange as a global investment hub through stronger partnerships, modernised market infrastructure, and deeper product innovation.

He also stressed the need to expand retail investor participation through digital channels in order to promote inclusive and sustainable market growth.

The lawsuits seek a total of 3 billion reais (approximately $525 million) in compensation and aim to ensure these companies implement stronger data protection and safety measures for young users.

These lawsuits follow a series of studies projecting possible risks to mental health from excessive, unsupervised social media use, particularly for children and teenagers. 

The Collective Defense Institute says that the platforms have not taken sufficient steps to mitigate these risks, and it is pressing for clear warnings on the impact of social media addiction on youth.

One of the plaintiffs, lawyer Lillian Salgado, called for better controls, urging platforms to adjust algorithms and improve oversight of user accounts for those under 18. 

Salgado pointed to policies in other developed nations, noting the need for Brazil to adopt similar measures that promote a safer, healthier online environment for minors.

The companies involved have responded in different ways. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, said it is committed to youth safety, noting that it has implemented over 50 tools and resources aimed at protecting young users. 

It also mentioned the upcoming launch of a “Teen Account” feature on Instagram in Brazil, designed to automatically restrict teenagers’ exposure to potentially harmful content and interactions.

TikTok, on the other hand, stated that it had not yet received formal notification of the lawsuit, while Kwai stressed its priority on user safety, particularly for minors. 

Researchers discovered that victims were infected when they downloaded the software from the official website, indicating that this is a possible supply chain attack.

Variants of the malware used in this campaign were first identified in 2013. Victims are based in various countries, including Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Kaspersky experts identified a new malicious campaign targeting Linux systems, where threat actors deployed a backdoor – a type of Trojan – onto victims’ devices using infected version of a popular free software: Free Download Manager.

Once the device is infected, the attackers’ goal is to steal information such as details about system, browsing history, saved passwords, cryptocurrency wallet files, and even credentials for cloud services like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud.

According to Kaspersky’s telemetry, victims of this campaign are located all over the world, including Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Kaspersky experts believe it is likely that this is a supply chain attack. During the investigation into Free Download Manager installation guides on YouTube for Linux computers, the company’s experts found instances where video creators inadvertently showcased the initial infection process: clicking the download button on the official website resulted in a malicious version of Free Download Manager being downloaded. In contrast, in another video, a legitimate version of the software was downloaded.

It is possible that the malware developers scripted the malicious redirection to appear with some degree of probability or based on digital fingerprint of the potential victim. As a result, some users encountered a malicious package, while others obtained a clean one.

According to Kaspersky’s findings, the campaign lasted for at least three years – from 2020 to 2022. The malicious package installed the Free Download Manager version released in 2020.

Moreover, over the course of this timeframe, there were discussions on websites such as StackOverflow and Reddit about problems caused by the infected software distribution. However, the users were unaware that these issues were caused by malicious activity.

“Variants of the analysed backdoor have been detectable by Kaspersky solutions for Linux since 2013. However, there is a widespread misconception that Linux is immune to malware, leaving many of these systems without adequate cybersecurity protection. This lack of protection makes these systems attractive targets for cybercriminals. Essentially, the Free Download Manager case highlights the challenge of spotting an ongoing cyberattack on a Linux system with the naked eye. Therefore, it’s essential for Linux-based computers, including both desktops and servers, to implement reliable and effective security measures”, says Georgy Kucherin, a security expert at GReAT, Kaspersky.

To avoid Linux-based and other types of threats, it is worth implementing the following security measures:

• Choose a proven endpoint security solution such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business that is equipped with behaviour-based detection and anomaly control capabilities for effective protection against known and unknown threats.
• Use Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security This adaptable, multi-layered solution provides optimised security for embedded Linux-based systems, devices and scenarios, in compliance with the rigorous regulatory standards so often applicable to these systems.
• Since the stolen credentials may be put up for sale on the dark web, use Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence to monitor shadow resources and promptly identify related threats.

The country’s Justice Ministry ordered the suspension of any iPhone model that does not come with a power charger, in addition to ordering the cancellation of the sale of the iPhone 12 and newer models.

The Ministry claimed in the decision, which was published in the nation’s official gazette, that the iPhone was missing a crucial component in a “deliberate discriminatory activity against customers.”

The authorities disagreed with Apple’s claim that the action was taken to lessen carbon emissions, claiming that there is no proof that selling the smartphone without a charger is protecting the environment.