Apple has been actively lobbying against a bill in Texas that aims to protect children online by enforcing stringent "App Store accountability" requirements. The bill, which has already passed the state legislature, mandates that tech giants like Apple and Google verify the age of every device user. The bill’s core intent is to protect minors by linking their app store accounts to a parent’s, requiring parental consent before downloading apps. However, Apple has voiced strong opposition to the bill, claiming that it would jeopardize user privacy and lead to unnecessary data collection.
Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook personally reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott to discuss potential amendments to the proposed legislation. In their conversation, Cook urged the governor to either modify the bill or veto it when it reaches his desk. Despite the bill already passing with strong support in the legislature, Governor Abbott has yet to announce his decision on whether to sign the bill into law. Apple has been heavily involved in lobbying efforts against this legislation, even running ads in Texas that associate pornographic websites with the bill's backing, a claim that has been widely disputed.
The legislation would require that app marketplaces such as Apple's App Store and Google Play collect personal data from every Texan who wishes to download an app, regardless of the app's content. Apple argues that this data collection would be invasive, putting user privacy at risk, and would be especially burdensome for apps that don’t involve sensitive content, like those providing weather updates or sports scores. However, the bill's supporters argue that the move is necessary to protect children online from inappropriate content.
In addition to Apple and Google, major social media platforms like Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) and Snap have also criticized the bill. These companies believe that the responsibility for verifying the age of users should lie with individual apps, not the app stores themselves. While the Texas bill faces opposition from the tech industry, it reflects a broader movement in the U.S., with similar legislation being introduced in nine other states and already enacted in Utah.
If passed, Texas would become the largest state to adopt "App Store accountability" legislation. A victory in Texas could set a precedent for other states and even push for a federal version of the bill. Despite the claims of tech companies, many argue that this legislation is necessary to enhance child safety online, and the debate over its potential impacts is far from over.
As this issue continues to unfold, the tech giants' resistance to the bill may signal broader concerns over the implications of such legislation, particularly the financial and operational burdens it could impose on the industry.
Spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott: "Safety and online privacy for Texas children remains a priority for Governor Abbott. The Governor will thoughtfully review this legislation, as he does with any legislation sent to his desk."
