Apple and Google will become legally responsible for age verification of app store users in Utah, after the App Store Accountability Act was signed into law. It takes effect on May 7, giving the tech giants a little time to implement it.
Both companies have opposed the legislation, but similar laws look set to follow in at least eight more US states …
The age verification problem
The issue has been an ongoing battle between Apple and Google on the one side, and social media companies on the other. Most social media apps have a minimum age requirement of 13, but companies have been accused of making little to no effort to verify someone’s age when they open an account.
Meta began arguing in 2023 that app stores are in a better position to do this, with Zuckerberg doubling down on this last year. A growing number of state legislatures seem to have been persuaded of this argument, with at least nine of them working on passing bills to pass the responsibility to app stores.
First law passed in Utah
As Engadget reports, Utah has now signed the App Store Accountability Act into law.
Under this law, people in Utah will need to be over age 18 to make a new account with an app store; underage users will need to link their account to a parent’s so that the adult can give permission for the child to use certain apps […]
Meta, Snap and X have supported the measure. “We applaud Governor Cox and the State of Utah for being the first in the nation to empower parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads, and urge other states to consider this groundbreaking approach,” the three companies said in a joint statement Wednesday. “This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services.”
It’s likely that both Apple and Google will mount legal challenges in an attempt to have the law overturned.
9to5Mac’s Take
There are two solid arguments for passing this responsibility to Apple and Google.
First, it’s more practical for a handful of app store providers to carry out the check once per account, rather than each individual app developer having to do it. Additionally, both companies often have credit card details on file for adult account holders, simplifying the task.
Second, date of birth documentation is sensitive personal data. I’d be way happier trusting Apple with that information than I would disclosing it to the likes of Meta and X.
iOS 18.4 sees Apple ask your age when you set up a new iPhone, though the company doesn’t currently verify this.
Photo: Apple
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