Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
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Title: Texas enacts age-verification law for app stores

Date: Tue, 27 May 2025 19:06:03 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/texas-enact...

Texas is the latest state to adopt an age-verification law for app stores.
Despite lobbying from big tech, reportedly including a personal call from
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill that requires app
stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental approval for a minor to
download software or make in-app purchases.

The sponsors of the Texas bill said it was intended to protect children and
teens from inappropriate content. "This puts tools in the hands of parents to
make decisions for their own children," said bill author Angela Paxton. The
Republican state senator is married to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Utah was the first state to enact legislation that places responsibility on
app store operators to check users' ages. Similar to the Texas endeavor,
Google also petitioned Utah's governor for that bill to be vetoed. Apple and
Google have pushed back against these age-verification measures, arguing that
they pose privacy risks for all users by creating a new infrastructure where
they need to submit personal information. "We believe there are better
proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to
turn over their personal information," Apple said regarding the new Texas
law.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-
tech/texas-enacts-age-verification-law-for-app-stores-190603522.html?src=rss

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