Texas Governor Greg Abbott today signed the App Store Accountability Act Act, which would require Apple and Google to verify the age of the App Store and Play Store users respectively. The law will require users who are under 18 years of age, which are to download apps or to obtain parents’ consent to in-app purchases. To Roots,
Apple’s CEO was with Tim Cook Allegedly Abbott asked to veto the law on a phone call, but obviously his attempt was unsuccessful.
The bill had already passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives in Texas, and now that it has been signed by Abbott, it will be effective on 1 January 2026. Texas is the second American state to pass such child safety law after Utah in March. Utah’s law made effective earlier this month, but will not be fully implemented until next year.
Apple already announced several new child safety measures in February, after the proposal of these bills. IOS 18.4 or iPados 18.4 or later when installing the iPhone or iPad, the person who is using the device will have to select his age limit, with 12 or more, with 12 or more, 13 to 18, and 19 or older with available options. If the account is for a child under the age of 13, then connect to the family option. A parent needs to provide a child to use the AAPP store and other features, in which face ID or touch ID authentication is required.
It remains to be seen whether the expanded age-conclusion measures of Apple would be sufficient to fully satisfy the laws in Texas and Utah, and others who can follow.
“If implemented, the app marketplace will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identity information for every texon, which wants to download an app, even if it is an app that simply offers the weather update or sports score,” Apple said.
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