California Assembly Passes Bill Requiring Age Verification for App Downloads
SACRAMENTO, CA - September 13, 2024 – A bill requiring operating system and app store providers to verify the ages of users before allowing app downloads has unanimously passed the California Assembly, 58-0. The Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration.
The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, aims to enhance online safety for children by requiring platforms to implement age verification tools. It does not mandate photo identification, instead focusing on methods like parental indication of age during device setup to guide users toward age-appropriate content and manage screen time.This move comes as lawmakers nationwide grapple with protecting young users online, and follows similar, though more controversial, laws passed in Utah and Texas earlier this year.
Unlike the laws in Utah and Texas, which faced criticism for potential privacy risks and opposition from major tech companies, AB 1043 has garnered support from industry leaders including Google and Meta. Kareem Ghanem, Google’s senior Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy, described the bill as “one of the most thoughtful approaches we’ve seen thus far to the challenges of keeping kids safe, recognizing that it’s a shared duty across the ecosystem.”
Governor Newsom has until October 13th to sign or veto the bill. If enacted, AB 1043 woudl place California at the forefront of efforts to regulate online access for minors, perhaps setting a precedent for other states and influencing the broader debate around digital child safety.