Lawmakers Introduce App Store Age Verification Bill Amid Online Safety Concerns

Republican lawmakers are introducing the App Store Accountability Act, which would require major app stores like Apple and Google to verify the ages of all users and share age categories with developers, following a similar measure in Utah. The bill mandates parental consent for minors to download or make purchases in apps and aims to shield children from harmful online content and predators. If enacted, it would represent the first significant federal online safety legislation in years and fundamentally alter how users interact with app stores. Supporters argue this addresses long-standing concerns over youth exposure to violent or sexual material via apps, but critics and privacy experts warn that verifying the ages of young users—especially those without government-issued IDs—raises practical and legal challenges. The proposal has divided the tech industry, with social media companies favoring app store responsibility and app stores themselves expressing privacy concerns. The legislation is part of broader efforts to make the internet safer for children amid mounting pressure on Congress and tech platforms.