Google’s Self-Serving Proposal Fails to Protect Kids

Google’s Director of Public Policy, Kareem Ghanem, just released a blog post criticizing Utah’s recently passed App Store Accountability Act (ASAA). He urges the adoption of a feckless alternative, one that closely mirrors Apple’s proposal from two weeks ago, which would enable Google to do as little as possible while hopefully tempering the justifiable outrage of parents and lawmakers. 

“Developers in Google’s app store, Google Play, are already allowed to collect and monetize children’s exact location, search history, contacts, purchases, and other sensitive identifiers without parental consent…”

He begins by blatantly mischaracterizing the carefully limited data sharing required under Utah’s ASAA and then raises the specter of vague “privacy concerns” about sharing anonymous age category data with developers. The irony is rich. Developers in Google’s app store, Google Play, are already allowed to collect and monetize children’s exact location, search history, contacts, purchases, and other sensitive identifiers without parental consent, often in clear violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Under COPPA, apps that target kids or knowingly collect data from children must get parental consent, but many don’t.  

Google also ignores a key legal reality. App terms of service contracts aren’t legally binding for minors, which means companies can’t rely on a child’s consent to collect or monetize their data. 

Kareem also tries to make it look as if ASAA is silly and overreaching by saying the “weather app” doesn’t need to know if a user is a child. But this example actually reinforces the whole point of ASAA because the top weather app states in their own terms of service that “We believe that children (under 18) should get their parents’ or guardians’ consent before giving out any personal data.” The weather app collects a user’s exact location, along with many other personal identifiers. 

Google claims it has “demonstrated a commitment” to keeping kids safe online. That’s laughable. They point to a blog post from last month announcing a handful of weak, overdue safety features. This is a sad attempt to deflect from years of inaction.  

But what’s the truth? Google also allows children to remove parental supervision without parental approval once they turn 13. More like Google has “demonstrated a commitment” to exploiting teens and circumventing parents. 

The ASAA establishes fundamental, enforceable protections that should already be standard practice. By requiring age verification, verifiable parental consent, and transparency in app risk disclosures, it ensures that parents are informed and empowered to guide their children through a dangerous digital environment. ASAA has earned the support of more than 60 of the nation’s leading child advocacy organizations. 

The App Store Accountability Act also prevents developers from enforcing terms-of-service contracts against minors without parental oversight, closing a longstanding gap in accountability.  

“The App Store Accountability Act provides a clear, legally sound framework to ensure compliance, transparency, and parental authority in an unregulated app marketplace.”  

These are not excessive measures. They are basic consumer protections that align with existing child privacy and underage contract laws. The App Store Accountability Act provides a clear, legally sound framework to ensure compliance, transparency, and parental authority in an unregulated app marketplace.  

Google’s program offers none of these protections and instead preserves the status quo. Lawmakers should reject Google’s “safety proposal” outright and see it for what it is: a self-serving attempt to avoid real accountability.