Utah First State To Pass Law Requiring App Stores Verify Ages

Under the bill, app stores would be required to request age information when someone creates an account.

Utah is now the first state to pass a law that requires app stores to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices.

Under the bill, app stores would be required to request age information when someone creates an account. If a minor tries to open one, the bill directs the app store to link it to their parent’s account and may request a form of ID to confirm their identity.

Aapp owners support the law amid criticism that they don’t do enough to make their products safe for children, or verify that no kids use them.

However, Apple says app developers can better handle age verification and other safety measures. The tech giant said requiring app stores to confirm ages will make it so all users have to hand over sensitive identifying information, such as driver licence, social security numbers and more, even if they don’t want to use an age-restricted app.