Legislative Milestone
has become the first state to pass a bill mandating app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors downloading apps, a move criticized by tech giants like and for privacy concerns.
The bill, awaiting Governor Spencer Cox's signature, has sparked a debate between social media companies, which support the legislation, and app store operators, who argue it infringes on user privacy and places undue burden on app stores.
Industry and Public Response
Critics, including Apple and Google, argue the bill could lead to unnecessary sharing of sensitive personal information and propose a shared responsibility model for age verification.
Proponents, including Meta, argue the bill simplifies the process for parents and puts the onus on app stores to ensure age-appropriate content access, potentially influencing similar legislation in other states.