Wed, 28 May 2025

Wed, 28 May 2025 Texas governor signs online safety law in blow to Apple and Google

Under the new law, minors will need parental approval before they can download apps or make in-app purchases.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a law requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of users in their app stores in the state, which will take effect on January 1. The law requires minors to obtain parental approval before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. Both Apple and Google opposed the bill, with an Apple spokesperson saying it would require millions of people to share their personal information. Texas is following Utah's lead, which implemented a similar law earlier this year. At the federal level, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has been proposed but stalled in Congress, leading states to create their own legislation. The law aims to strengthen child online safety and prevent social media companies from collecting users' personal data without consent.
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