Latest news with #AppStoreAccountabilityAct
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Texas adopts child safety bill despite Apple CEO Tim Cook's personal plea
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an online child safety bill, bucking a lobbying push from big tech companies that included a personal phone call from Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. The measure requires app stores to verify users' ages and secure parental approval before minors can download most apps or make in-app purchases. The bill drew fire from app store operators such as Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Apple, which have argued that the legislation threatens the privacy of all users. Also Read | 120-year-old iconic Texas dance hall for sale one year after abrupt shutdown The bill was a big enough priority for Apple that Cook called Abbott to emphasise the company's opposition to it, said a person familiar with their discussion, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The measure was patterned after Utah's App Store Accountability Act, which took effect earlier this year and placed similar requirements on software markets, said Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator who authored the bill. 'This puts tools in the hands of parents to make decisions for their children,' said Paxton, who, like Abbott, is a Republican. Also Read | Who are Abdul Murshid and Muhammad Nasir? Pakistani nationals in Texas held for visa fraud in US, Kash Patel responds Abbott's office echoed her view, saying in a statement that the new law will enable Texas to 'empower parents to have more control over the online content their children can access.' Alphabet said it was assessing next steps. Apple said it values child safety but expressed concern that the legislation would unnecessarily erode personal privacy. 'We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information,' the company said in a statement.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Texas adopts online Child-Safety Bill that made Apple CEO Tim Cook call governor; made Facebook oppose Apple and Google
Representative image Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a new online child safety bill into law, requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent before minors can download most apps or make in-app purchases. The legislation, effective January 1, 2026, places Texas at the forefront of a national debate over regulating children's smartphone use, despite strong opposition from tech giants like Apple and Google. Apple CEO Tim Cook called Texas governor to express concern on the bill The bill, modeled after Utah's App Store Accountability Act, drew significant pushback from Apple Inc, with CEO Tim Cook reportedly personally calling Abbott to voice the company's concerns, according to a source familiar with the discussion. Apple and Google argued that the law threatens user privacy by mandating age verification for all app downloads, even for innocuous apps like weather or sports updates. 'We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information,' Apple said in a statement. Google echoed similar concerns, with senior director Kareem Ghanem, as per a report in Reuters, emphasizing the need for targeted legislation that addresses social media harms without broad privacy implications. What is the Online Child-Safety bill about The measure, authored by Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, requires parental consent for users under 18 to access apps or make in-app purchases. It follows Utah's lead as the second U.S. state to enact such a law, with federal lawmakers also considering similar legislation. A separate Texas bill restricting social media apps to users over 18 is pending a Senate vote. Apple and Google oppose the bill Apple and Google have proposed alternatives, such as sharing age range data only with apps that need it. However, with Texas moving forward, the law sets a precedent that could influence other states and shape the ongoing national conversation about balancing child safety and user privacy. Bill pits Facebook against Google and Apple The debate has also highlighted tensions between tech giants. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has advocated for app stores to handle age verification, arguing it's more efficient than requiring parental ID uploads for every app. Meta declined to comment on the Texas bill. Public support for the bill Public support for such measures is strong, with a 2023 Pew Research poll showing 81% of Americans favor requiring parental consent for children's social media accounts and 71% support age verification. The growing concern over social media's impact on children's mental health has fueled global action, with countries like Australia banning social media for those under 16 and others, like Norway, exploring similar restrictions. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Hill
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Congress should follow Utah's lead on protecting kids online with app store law
A new bill to regulate app stores has been introduced in Congress. This legislation will likely spark a debate over its constitutionality, but members of Congress who recognize this as an opportunity to help parents protect their children online should borrow from the example of state leadership to defend and pass the bill. Utah recently became the first state in the nation to pass an App Store Accountability Act. The law requires app stores to ensure that users are adults or, if not, that a minor trying to make purchases or download apps has the consent of their parents. Both chambers of Utah's legislature approved the measure — with only four dissenting votes — and Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed the bill in March. Utah's example demonstrates that this approach is broadly popular and grounded in principle. Even so, some critics have suggested the Utah law presented an unconstitutional violation of free speech. That argument was not valid in the Utah debate and should not present a hurdle to approval of the federal bill. If a constitutional argument emerges in the debate over the federal App Store Accountability Act, there are three strong counterarguments that reinforce the bill's legal and principled foundation. First, the federal bill carefully avoids regulating the content of any message — it only addresses conduct. The legislation is akin to the very familiar practice of brick-and-mortar stores checking a customer's age before selling alcohol or tobacco (or even letting them use a tanning bed). Since we recognize that children and teens are at greater risk from some harmful products or activities, society has already deemed this practice reasonable. It has become increasingly clear that social media use can create serious risks for young people, particularly for their mental health, and unsupervised app use can expose children to seriously dangerous material. But even absent this risk, using app stores can create contractual legal obligations for users. These are precisely the types of harms governments seek to prevent through age verification. Second, and related to the first point, the law does not limit what a specific app creator or user can or cannot say. It merely ensures that children who may be entering into app-related service agreement contracts have their parents' guidance before doing so. This is particularly important when those contracts can result in recurring financial charges or give the child access to content with possible harmful effects. Third, any inconvenience that these modest requirements create for app store providers, app developers and users is outweighed by the benefits of having reasonable safeguards for children and teens. The Supreme Court has upheld laws that prohibit businesses from providing material that is harmful to minors, even when such laws might create negligible burdens on stores and other customers. Critics will understandably argue that there are some security and privacy risks in age verification. App stores, however, are well equipped to address these risks, and with strong precedent. App stores already frequently gather and maintain sensitive information of users. They collect and store credit card numbers, demographic information, personal contacts and more. This law merely directs them to make reasonable efforts to verify a user's age and parental consent. This information is not more difficult to collect and protect than other data they already manage. The new federal proposal provides an appropriate and constitutional way to empower parents who want to help their children avoid harmful apps and unfair service contracts. Parents appreciate and need this type of support. The experience of Utah suggests that this approach is welcome and popular. It makes sense at the national level as well. William C. Duncan is the constitutional law and religious freedom fellow at the Sutherland Institute, an independent nonpartisan public policy think tank in Salt Lake City.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Google and Apple must make it easier for parents to keep kids safe online
As teens grow older, their time spent online increases — and so does their exposure to a never-ending stream of notifications, content and apps. According to a 2024 report by Pew Research Center, nearly half of U.S. teens say they are online 'almost constantly.' This level of access presents serious challenges for parents trying to protect their teens from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat or the many other apps that can be downloaded right onto today's smart phones. As parents, we have tried to stay on top of what our teenager is downloading and viewing. But even with screen time settings and app restrictions in place, it's easy for young users to find workarounds — especially when all it takes is misrepresenting your age to gain access to adult content. Right now, the burden of age verification and content restrictions rests largely within individual apps, resulting in a rollercoaster of standards. Some apps are diligent, while others are lax. It's unpredictable and, frankly, unfair to expect parents to manage it all without consistent tools. Clearly, we need a unified system that empowers parents, not developers, to make these approvals. If platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store were required to verify age and parental consent before allowing minors to download apps, the process would be much more streamlined and secure. Apple and Google have the technical, organizational and ethical skills to make this work. As a result, parents can be true partners, not just viewers, in guiding their children's digital choices. Fortunately, our concerns are being heard where it matters, as legislators in several states are taking steps to help parents navigate this evolving online world. At the federal level, Michigan's own U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, is leading the charge, having just introduced the App Store Accountability Act in the 119th Congress. James had previously introduced the legislation in 2024. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is leading an identical companion bill in the U.S. Senate. As James described the the App Store Accountability Act in a press release announcing its introduction, the act would: Require age verification for access to App Store ID Require parental consent for users under 18 using App stores Link devices of minors on app stores to parents/guardians Establish enforcement mechanisms for violations of this act The legislation would ensure that app stores take responsibility for verifying a user's age — just as we expect age checks for purchasing alcohol or tobacco at retail stores. This approach has many advantages, including creating consistency and transparency across platforms, giving families more control and helping teens navigate their online world safely and responsibly. While we are still responsible for the consequences and actions of our children's decisions, this bill will be a great push forward in protecting our kids online. When we give parents better tools to set up secure boundaries, we give our kids a safer future. Reflecting on our experiences raising our 16-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son, we recognize the importance of having resources like the App Store Accountability Act in place during their formative years. Jack and Aimee Fugate are parents in Rochester Hills. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: TikTok isn't always safe for kids. Parents need more access | Opinion
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
8 Utah bills going into effect on May 7 you should know about
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After a busy session on Utah's Capitol Hill earlier this year, 584 bills were passed. Now, on Wednesday, May 7, roughly 400 laws and policies will go into effect. The bills range from school safety and homelessness to flags and fluoride, but here are a select few you may want to know about. S.B. 142 – App Store Accountability Act As part of Utah's continued push to hold digital services, such as social media platforms, accountable for their content, Utah lawmakers passed S.B. 142. The App Store Accountability Act forces app stores on both Android and Apple devices to require age verification in order to download apps. Specifically, the bill prohibits enforcing 'contracts,' such as a Terms of Service Agreement, for accounts belonging to minors without parental consent. Under this bill, parents or guardians would be required to give consent for apps, and app developers would have to verify that consent through the app store. The bill also opens avenues for parents or guardians of minors harmed by a lack of enforcement to sue app stores. H.B. 77 – Flag Display Amendments One of the more controversial and followed bills in the 2025 General Session, H.B. 77, otherwise known as the Flag Display Amendments bill, bans the display of certain flags on government property. The ban notably impacts public classrooms and restricts political flags from being shown, including pride flags, political movement flags, or any flag that is not listed as an exception, such as state flags, country flags, or municipality flags. SLC council unanimously pass Pride, Juneteenth themed city flags ahead of state flag ban H.B. 81 – Fluoride Amendments A bill that garnered national attention, H.B. 81 goes into effect on May 7, officially making Utah the first state in the nation to ban fluoride in public water systems. The bill was passed as a 'matter of individual choice' on whether or not to have fluoride in the water. And while Utah's water will no longer undergo fluoridization, the bill does allow for pharmacists to prescribe fluoride tablets as an alternative way of getting the benefits, should they want to. H.B. 249 – Nuclear Power Amendments In the 2025 General Session, Utah moved one step closer to bringing nuclear energy to the Beehive State. With the passing of H.B. 249, Utah will create the Nuclear Energy Consortium, the Utah Energy Council, and an Energy Development Investment Fund, starting May 7. The bill is part of Utah's plan to 'combat the looming energy crisis' the state faces with a rising population. While the Consortium will be tasked with providing knowledge and expertise, the Council will oversee energy projects, such as storage and development of power plants. H.B. 300 – Amendments to Election Law Another controversial bill that made its way through the legislative session was H.B. 300, and it goes into effect starting today. The bill makes a few significant changes to how Utahns will vote by mail, including phasing out signature verifications on mail-in ballots and sending out mail-in ballots by default. By 2029, Utahns will be required to opt in to receive a mail-in ballot and will be required to place the last four digits of their driver's license, state ID, or social security number on their ballot return envelopes. H.B. 322 – Child Actor Regulations A bill that sets up protections for child actors, including those who appear in content made for social media, such as YouTube, is set to go into effect on May 7. H.B. 322 requires parents or guardians to set up a trust fund for the child actor, where a portion of earnings from the content can be placed. Among other protections, it also gives minors the right to delete any content made while they were underage once they turn 18. How to protect your teeth after the fluoridation ban: DHHS offers tips H.B. 403 – SNAP Funds Amendments H.B. 403 starts the process to prevent soft drinks from being eligible to be purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill, which went into effect on May 7, directs the Department of Workforce Services to file a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture by July 1. The waiver would request authorization to stop the use of SNAP benefits to buy soft drinks, which, if approved, would begin enforcement within six months. DWS would then be required to track the public health outcomes of the restriction and renew the waiver every year. H.B. 505 – Homeless Services Revisions Among a list of revisions made to address homelessness in the state, H.B. 505 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to camp out on state property without explicit permission. This includes the use of tents, motor vehicles, cots, beds, sleeping bags, or cooking with a campfire, propane stove, or other cooking equipment, according to the bill. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
