Utah is therefore the first American state to require Apple and Google stores to verify the user's age, to prevent minors from accessing apps that are not authorized for them. Concretely, both operators will have to perform verification when creating a new account in the state, which will likely involve using a credit card.
Who must verify age online?
If a user under 18 opens an account in one of the stores, Apple or Google will have to link it to a parental account or request additional documentation. And parents will have to give their consent for in-app purchases.
The provisions of the text, signed by the governor of Utah, must be implemented The law is expected to be passed on May 7, but legal action is expected to delay it. Regardless, the law could spread to other parts of the United States, much to the chagrin of Apple and Google, which don't want the liability. "The right place to address the dangers of age-restricted online content is the specific websites and apps that host that content," the company said. Apple a few weeks ago.
Google is highlighting the issue of data shared between the Play Store and the developer. "Such a level of data sharing is unnecessary - a weather app doesn't need to know if a user is a child," the search engine argues. The law as written allows social media apps to "escape" [their] responsibility,” the company laments.
On the contrary, social networks are pushing legislators in this direction. This is the case for Meta, Snap, and Twitter. These three companies welcomed the Utah law, explaining that parents wanted a “one-stop shop” allowing them to supervise and approve apps downloaded by teens. “This approach prevents users from having to repeatedly transmit their personal information to a multitude of apps and online services,” they add.
This battle is only just beginning. And social media isn't the only one involved: porn sites would also like to see the responsibility for age verification shift to the stores rather than them.
Source: CNBC
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