WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced legislation providing parents with tools to protect their children from harmful content on mobile phone applications at federal level.
“For too long, Big Tech has profited from app stores through which children in America and across the world access violent and sexual material while risking contact from online predators,” Lee said after introducing the proposed App Store Accountability Act in the 119th Congress on May 1.
That legislation would empower parents as decision makers for their children’s online safety and hold app stores responsible for providing safeguards.
The proposal would also require app stores and developers to protect children by requiring parental approval for app downloads and providing accurate age ratings for apps.
Lee’s bill also prohibits any selling or sharing of sensitive data or any act that would restrict free speech or expression.
Lee’s proposal would provide safeguards at federal similar to those enacted by the Utah Legislature earlier this year.
While similar bills have been introduced in at least eight states, Utah became the first state to pass legislation in March requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their mobile devices.
If enacted, Lee’s proposal would represent a victory of sorts for the tech giant Meta, which operates both Facebook and Instagram, because the law would place the onus for age verification on app stores operated by Apple, Google and others.
Lee’s staff members here in Washington say that support for increased parental empowerment online at federal level is widespread and bipartisan.
Recent national polling by the Digital Childhood Alliance found that 88 percent of parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval for minors to download apps and 68 percent agree that granting approval through app stores would be the easiest way to provide their consent.
Companion legislation to the App Store Accountability Act is being introduced into the House by U.S. Rep. John James (R-MI).
James said that the proposed legislation simply holds Big Tech companies to the same common sense standards as local corner stores.
More than 100 child advocacy organizations have also signaled their support of Lee’s App Store Accountability Act, including the Digital Alliance and App Store Accountability Movement; the Center for Technology and Human Person at the Heritage Foundation; Not on Our Watch; the Ethics and Public Policy Center; and Better Screen Time.
“Our legislation brings age verification and accountability to the source of the problem,” Lee added.