Question 1

What is the App Store Child Protection Act?

Accepted Answer

The App Store Child Protection Act, formerly known as the App Store Accountability Act, is a proposed law that would require app stores to verify the age of users and obtain meaningful parental consent before children can download apps or enter into digital contracts. It places accountability at the app store level — the digital front door — rather than trying to regulate thousands of individual apps one by one.

Question 2

Why focus on app stores instead of individual apps?

Accepted Answer

App stores are the gatekeepers. Every app reaches a child through an app store first. By creating age verification and consent requirements at that single point, we can protect kids across the entire digital ecosystem without chasing every new app, website, or platform that comes along.

Question 3

Does this bill ban apps or restrict free speech?

Accepted Answer

No. The bill does not ban apps, censor content, or restrict speech. It simply requires app stores to verify age and confirm parental consent before a child downloads an app or agrees to terms of service. Adults can continue to use apps as they do today.

Question 4

How would age verification work?

Accepted Answer

The bill allows app stores to use privacy-preserving age verification methods. The goal is to confirm whether a user is a child without collecting unnecessary personal data. Parents would be notified and asked to consent before a child can download an app or enter into a digital agreement.

Question 5

Would this require you to upload your ID to the App Store or Google Play?

Accepted Answer

No. The bill does not require you to upload a driver's license, passport, or other government ID to an app store. It simply requires app stores to verify whether a user is a child using privacy-preserving methods that collect the minimum information necessary. Adults can continue using app stores as they do today.

Question 6

Can the App Store Child Protection Act strengthen privacy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The App Store Child Protection Act can strengthen privacy rather than create new risks.

Its privacy approach is designed to limit how many companies handle children’s data.

App stores already collect basic information such as birthdates, account information, and payment details. The Act does not require every app to collect a child’s ID or force families to repeat age checks across hundreds of apps.

Instead, the Act allows the app store to serve as the central checkpoint. That means fewer apps need to ask children for age information, fewer companies handle children’s data, and parents get more transparency before downloads happen.

Question 7

Do you take money from Big Tech?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not accept funding from Apple, Google, Meta, or other major tech companies. This campaign is parent-led and supported by families, child-safety advocates, and grassroots donors who want safer digital experiences for kids.

Question 8

What states have passed laws modeled on the App Store Child Protection Act?

Accepted Answer

Three states have passed laws modeled on the App Store Accountability Act, now called the App Store Child Protection Act: Utah (SB 142, signed March 2025), Texas (SB 2420, signed May 2025 and effective January 2026), and Louisiana (HB 570 / Act 481, signed July 2025). California also passed a related law in October 2025 called the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), which works differently but shares the same goal of protecting kids on apps.

Question 9

Where is the App Store Child Protection Act being worked on?

Accepted Answer

The App Store Child Protection Act, formerly known as the App Store Accountability Act, has been passed into law in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. California passed a related version called the Digital Age Assurance Act. The bill is also being worked on in other state legislatures. Check the Updates page for the latest on where the bill is moving and how to get involved in your state.

Question 10

What changes for parents?

Accepted Answer

Parents would finally have a meaningful say at the point of download. Instead of discovering after the fact that a child has agreed to terms, shared data, or signed up for a service, parents would be asked to consent upfront and could make informed decisions about which apps their children use.

Question 11

What changes for app developers?

Accepted Answer

Developers benefit from a clear, uniform standard across app stores. Instead of navigating a patchwork of state laws and creating their own age checks, they can rely on the app store to handle age verification and parental consent at the front door.

Question 12

Is this a federal or state bill?

Accepted Answer

The App Store Child Protection Act is modeled as a state-level bill that can be introduced in any state legislature. It is designed to be practical, constitutional, and easy for states to adopt.

Question 13

How can I support the bill?

Accepted Answer

You can sign up for updates, contact your state legislators, share posts on social media, and join local parent organizing efforts. Visit the Take Action page to find the best way for you to get involved.

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