Utah has once again passed , a bill aiming to introduce new restrictions on children’s access to social media and other apps. The state legislature has passed a measure requiring app store creators to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for app downloads. If the governor signs the bill into law, it would mark the first such legislation in the United States, as noted by The Verge .
The Beehive State has previously attempted to limit children’s social media use. Two laws were passed , imposing age verification and parental consent requirements on social media companies. However, these laws faced legal challenges, resulting in a Utah judge them from becoming effective last fall.
The “App Store Accountability Act” adopts a different strategy. It holds app stores (primarily Apple and Google) responsible for conducting age verification and obtaining parental consent, rather than individual social media platforms. Predictably, Meta and other social media companies have the app store-focused method to .
On Wednesday, Meta, Snap, and X issued a rare lauding the Utah initiative. “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way,” the companies stated. “The app store is the ideal venue for this, and over a quarter of states have introduced bills acknowledging the central role app stores play. We commend Utah for empowering parents with this landmark legislation and urge Congress to act similarly.”
Neither Apple nor Google has publicly commented on Utah’s bill thus far, though we have contacted both for remarks.
Considering the controversy around earlier attempts to enforce age verification on platforms, Utah’s bill is likely to encounter legal challenges if and when it is enacted into law. Nevertheless, other states may soon mirror Utah’s initiative. At least are contemplating similar measures.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/utah-is-poised-to-pass-an-age-verification-law-for-app-stores-000542476.html?src=rss
