App Store Accountability Act

Summary#

This bill would require large app stores (those with over 5,000,000 U.S. users) to collect and verify a user's age category when an account is created. If the user is a minor, the store must link the account to a verified parental account and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing the minor to download or purchase apps or make in-app purchases. App stores must protect age-verification data, display clear age ratings and content descriptions, notify users and parents of significant changes, and provide a real-time "signal" to app developers that indicates a user's age category and whether parental consent was obtained.

App developers must use the store's signal to check users' age categories, notify the store of significant app changes, request age data or consent in limited situations, and follow rules about using and sharing age data. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the requirements, states may bring civil actions, and the bill includes a one-year effective delay and a safe harbor for app developers that rely in good faith on store-provided age information.

What it means for you#

  • If you create an account on a covered app store, the store will ask your age and try to verify it.
  • If you are under 18, your account must be tied to a verified parental account. Your parent must give verifiable consent before you can download or buy apps or make in-app purchases.
  • App stores will share only a user's age category (adult, teenager, child, young child) and, for minors, whether parental consent exists. App developers will use that information to enforce age-based features.
  • App stores and developers must show clear age ratings and content descriptions, and they must notify users (and parents for minors) when significant app changes occur.
  • The Federal Trade Commission would issue guidance, review compliance, and enforce the rules. Certified compliance by the Commission lasts one year.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill states its purpose is to safeguard children by giving parents clear, accurate information about apps their children download and use and to ensure proper parental consent is obtained.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.