Texas Advocacy Groups Applaud Passage of the App Store Accountability Bill
| AUSTIN – Today, With strong support in both chambers, the Texas Legislature has passed SB 2420, a bipartisan App Store Accountability bill that introduces long-overdue safeguards for children online. The legislation is now just one step from the Governor’s desk, where child safety advocates hope it will soon become law. Earlier this week, 17 leading Texas child advocacy organizations sent a letter to lawmakers urging swift passage of SB 2420, calling it a “commonsense” and “urgently needed” solution to restore parental oversight and bring transparency to how app stores interact with minors. SB 2420 empowers parents by requiring app stores to obtain verifiable parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases, mandates accurate age ratings, and introduces secure age verification tools. “We are thrilled to see App Store Accountability legislation pass the Texas House, after already clearing the Senate,” said John Read, Policy Director at the Digital Childhood Alliance. “After years of advocacy to protect children online, it’s incredibly encouraging to see this bill just steps away from becoming law in a state as influential as Texas. Texas has always led on issues that matter, and today they’re leading on child safety. This bill ensures that parents have real oversight, that children aren’t entering into legal contracts they don’t understand, and that app stores are finally held accountable for the role they play as the gatekeeper for kids’ digital lives. Governor Greg Abbott has made clear that protecting children online is a priority for his administration. Advocates applaud his leadership on this issue and look forward to him signing SB 2420 into law.” “The momentum behind this movement is extraordinary, and Texas is showing the nation what it looks like to put families first in the fight to protect children online.” Said David Dunmoyer, Director of the Better Tech for Tomorrow Campaign at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “With SB 2420, Texas is setting a national standard for protecting families and reining in a system that has gone unchecked for far too long.” Advocates say the bill addresses a growing crisis: app stores routinely allow children to sign complex contracts, interact with strangers, or access inappropriate content—often without a parent’s knowledge. “Texas lawmakers deserve real credit for listening to parents, experts, and advocates who’ve been championing this solution for years.” Said Joel Thayer, President of the Digital Progress Institute. “The App Store Accountability Act is a commonsense solution to an acute problem created by tech companies. The fact is that contracts signed by minors are unenforceable, but the app stores, including Apple’s and Google’s, make all users – including children – sign a user agreement entitling the companies to collect data and limiting their liability. We wouldn’t accept this from a bank. We wouldn’t accept this from a car dealership. Why are we accepting this on an iPhone?” Momentum is growing across the country. In March, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative John James (R-MI) introduced the App Store Accountability Act in Congress – a federal version of this legislation – with support from more than 100 national advocacy organizations who signed a letter applauding their leadership and calling for immediate action. |