Texas may soon enforce age verification on Apple App Store

A Texas bill requiring Apple and Alphabet’s Google to verify app store users’ ages could become law this week, positioning the second-most-populous U.S. state at the heart of a debate over regulating smartphone use by children and teens.
Stephen Nellis for Reuters:
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Senate Bill 2420 would require app store owners to verify the age of the user of a device, and, if that user is below the age of 18, require parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases. Utah was the first U.S. state to pass a similar law earlier this year, and U.S. lawmakers have also introduced a federal bill.
The Texas bill is awaiting Governor Greg Abbott’s signature after receiving super-majority approval from both houses of the Texas legislature. Another bill, which has not yet passed the state legislature, would restrict social media apps to users over 18.
Apple and Google opposed the Texas bill, saying it imposes blanket requirements to share age data with all apps, even when those apps are uncontroversial.
“If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it’s an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores,” Apple said in a statement.
Google and Apple each have their own proposals that involve sharing age range data only with apps that require it, rather than all apps.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s fighting against the tide here. Hopefully, they can swim parallel to shore for a bit and find an easier way to the beach that works for everyone.

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