Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the App Store Accountability Act yesterday, mandating stricter controls on mobile app marketplaces to protect minors from online predators and safeguard their personal data.
The legislation, formerly known as Senate Bill 2420, requires app stores like Apple’s App Store and Google Play to verify users’ ages when creating accounts and link minors’ accounts to parent or guardian oversight.
The law comes amid growing concerns about online threats to children. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the CyberTipline received more than 186,800 reports of online enticement in 2023. More troubling still, these reports surged by over 300% between 2021 and 2023.
“When you hand kids technology, you’re handing them the entire world,” says Michelle Sacks, Executive Director of Street Grace Texas, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating sex trafficking. “With Apple and Google, it’s holding them accountable. We can’t pretend like we don’t know what’s happening in the shadier corners of the internet.”
Under the new law, app stores must implement several protective measures:
- Mandatory age verification for all new account creations
- Parental consent requirements for minor users
- Visible age ratings for all applications
- Clear explanations for app rating decisions
- Enhanced encryption of sensitive personal data
- Limited collection of personal information strictly necessary for age verification
While some parents welcome the increased protection, the law has sparked debate among young users.
“I feel that for some apps it’s not necessary for my parents to dictate what I download,” says 13-year-old Grayson Omideyi. “They should trust us.”
However, parent Jermeshia Goudeau emphasizes the law targets predatory behavior rather than restricting youth freedom.
“When Grayson is getting on these devices and downloading these apps, his mind is not going astray,” Goudeau explains. “It’s pure entertainment, but the people on the other side of these apps are going with a very predatory nature.”
The legislation marks Texas as the second state to enact such comprehensive app store regulations. Technology companies must now adapt their platforms to comply with these new requirements, potentially reshaping how mobile applications are distributed in Texas.
“This is a great step towards collaboration of helping parents and holding these companies accountable, all in the name of keeping our kids safe,” Sacks adds.
The App Store Accountability Act takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, giving technology companies several months to implement the required changes and security measures.
