Parents Over Platforms Act
Congress Proposes New Rules Requiring App Stores to Verify Ages and Give Parents More Control Over Downloads
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill requires app stores to ask users for their age when they create an account. The stores must then create a digital 'age signal' that tells other apps whether a user is a minor or an adult, helping to ensure kids only see content and apps that are appropriate for their age group.
- App developers would be required to use these age signals or their own reliable methods to identify minors. They must stop showing personalized ads to anyone under 18 and must get permission before letting children access apps or features that are meant for adults or labeled as unsuitable for kids.
- The policy aims to give parents more power over what their children do online. App stores would have to provide a central place where parents can block their kids from downloading specific types of apps based on age ratings, making it easier to manage digital safety in one spot.
- To protect privacy, the bill limits how much data companies can collect just to check a person's age. Companies are forbidden from using this age information for anything else, such as trying to figure out a user's exact birthday or sharing the data with outside advertisers.
- If passed, the Federal Trade Commission would have the power to punish companies that do not follow these rules. The requirements would go into effect two years after the bill becomes law, giving tech companies time to build the necessary tools and systems.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small app developers would face new compliance burdens, including reporting whether their apps qualify as 'Covered Applications,' implementing age verification or integrating age signals from app stores, and building systems to block personalized ads to minors. These requirements could be costly and technically challenging for smaller companies with limited engineering resources, though the 24-month implementation window provides some runway.
Disabilities
Activities
Milestones
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
Developers push back on app store age verification bill
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Parents Over Platforms Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.