App Store Accountability Act

The App Store Accountability Act aims to increase parental control over children's digital activities by holding app store operators responsible for age-restricted content. The bill would require platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play to implement age verification for all users and categorize them into specific age groups, such as children, younger teenagers, and older teenagers. For users identified as minors, the legislation proposes that their accounts be linked to a parent or guardian, who must then provide explicit consent before the minor can download new applications or make in-app purchases.

Beyond age verification, the bill proposes new transparency requirements for app developers and store providers. It would mandate more accurate age ratings for individual apps and require annual certifications to ensure safety tools are effective. To encourage compliance, the bill establishes a "safe harbor" for companies that meet these standards while creating a private right of action that would allow parents to seek legal remedies if their children are exposed to harmful material due to a platform's failure to follow the rules. The Federal Trade Commission would be tasked with primary enforcement of these new regulations.