App Store Accountability Act

The App Store Accountability Act would require app stores to verify the age of users and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing minors to download applications or make in-app purchases. App developers would receive age category information from the app store and would be required to provide clear, plain-language age ratings and content descriptions for their apps. The bill aims to give parents better information and control over what apps their children can access.

The legislation would establish requirements for how app stores handle children's personal data, including limiting data collection to what is necessary for age verification and parental consent, and implementing security safeguards. App stores would be prohibited from sharing age category data with third parties and would need to notify parents of significant changes to an app's terms of service or privacy policy. The Federal Trade Commission would be tasked with issuing guidance to help app stores and developers comply with the law's requirements.

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. If enacted, it would apply to major app distribution platforms and could significantly change how minors access digital content online.