Apple's child safety toolset is already robust and expanding with iOS 27, but the UK government isn't happy and continues to threaten legislation. Apple introduced Sensitive Content Warnings with iOS 17 in 2023 for child accounts and later introduced it as an option for adults. Several new features have been added since, including age verification systems in the UK, plus a comprehensive rethink of child safety with iOS 27 coming soon.

However, according to a report from Bloomberg, these measures aren't enough and legislation may still be necessary. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has told the House of Commons that the government would introduce legislation on the matter, but didn't say when or to what extent. She's targeting tech giants like Apple and Google with these legal threats, but both companies have already implemented some level of system-wide parental controls.

Apple specifically has increasingly added features targeting parents wanting to further police their children's activity on their devices and online. For example, parents can already control what apps they access, who they can communicate with, and when their device can be used. Sensitive Content Warnings already pop up in Messages, FaceTime, and in third-party apps that utilize the API, but they only warn the user of sensitive content instead of blocking it entirely.

Apple announced expanded and rethought parental controls and child safety features during WWDC 2026 that will roll out to the public later in September. Even then, Nandy said these features are a "step in the right direction" but not enough. The UK legislators haven't specified how these protections are not sufficient nor how Apple might improve upon them. With iOS 27, parents have control of nearly every minute interaction a child could have on their device, even which websites they visit.