Overview
- Apple’s CEO met with House Energy and Commerce Committee members in Washington to argue against the App Store Accountability Act.
- The proposal would require Apple to verify users’ ages at account creation and obtain parental consent for each app downloaded by children under 16.
- Apple says such rules would compel collection of sensitive IDs like driver’s licenses or passports, and it promotes parental controls and a Declared Age Range API as less intrusive alternatives.
- Committee leaders are also weighing broader options reportedly including age verification for all U.S. smartphone users, though those discussions remain preliminary.
- Texas has already enacted SB2420 requiring age and parental identity verification starting January 1, 2026, and Apple has adjusted its account and App Store flows to comply.