Utah Enacts Landmark Law Making App Stores Verify User Ages

The App Store Accountability Act shifts age verification responsibility to app stores, with legal challenges and nationwide implications expected.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed the App Store Accountability Act into law, requiring app stores like Apple and Google to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for minors.
The law mandates that minors' accounts be linked to a parent's account for app downloads and purchases, centralizing oversight at the app store level.
Apple and Google have opposed the law, citing privacy concerns over collecting sensitive user data, while Meta, Snap, and X have publicly supported the measure.
The law is set to take effect on May 7, 2025, but legal challenges from app store operators are anticipated, potentially delaying implementation.
Utah's legislation is the first of its kind in the U.S. and may inspire similar laws in at least eight other states currently considering such measures.