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janrinok [soylentnews.org] writes:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/12/01/us-wants-laws-to-force-app-store-age-checks-despite-apples-existing-protections?utm_source=rss [appleinsider.com]

The United States wants big tech companies like Apple to protect children online by adding age verification safeguards to the App Store. It's a political push that completely ignores what protections Apple already provides to parents and children.

Lawmakers have been particularly keen to protect children from online dangers, and have repeatedly demanded big tech companies like Apple and Google do more to help. In the latest attempt to make big tech bend to its demands, the U.S. government is going after the App Store.

The App Store Accountability Act (ASA) was introduced in May as a way for parents to get more tools to protect their children online. In late November, the ASA was brought up in Congress as part of a raft of measures to keep kids safe online, led by the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

It's also due to be discussed as part of a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing. A report on Monday by The Verge says that the discussion will look at a nine-bill package of measures.

Under the ASA, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. John James (R-MI), app storefronts, like Apple's App Store and Google Play, will be required to verify the age of all users in a privacy-protecting way. The result can then be used to limit what apps would be accessible to the user, if they are deemed too young.

Accounts that are used by minors must be linked to a parental account, which would need to provide parental consent for downloading apps or making purchases. App Stores also have to meet standards like providing secure age verification and accurate app age ratings.

While there are some measures in place, such as California's age check law, the intention of the bills are to make things the same across the United States. Instead of dealing with various laws and measures in different states, there would be one set of overriding rules that offer close to the same protections.

Much like many attempts to legislate technology, there is a difference between intention and looking at reality. Had lawmakers looked closer, they would see that Apple already has something in place that does just what they asked.

Apple's Family Sharing system allows for a parent or guardian to create an Apple Account for a child under 13 years old. Child accounts can be managed by the parent account in various ways, including Screen Time limits and "Content & Privacy Restrictions" affecting what they can see.

This can limit how much mature or explicit content a child can see in the App Store or in various other apps and services, including podcasts, music videos, and even Apple Books. This also extends to the App Store, with controls allowing parents to require the child account to request access to an app or to make a purchase.

After releasing a whitepaper in February, Apple said in July that it would change the experience for child accounts in iOS 26, including a simplified setup process. The age of the child would also be shared with app developers in the format of an age range, so content can be further tailored to them.

Apple also wanted to expand its age ratings in the App Store to five categories, including new levels for 13+, 16+, and 18+.

A lot of this covers the main thrust of the bill, though age verification is the difficult part. Unlike an adult, a child is unlikely to have much in the way of computer-readable proof of their age.

However, as shown at the time of the Utah version of the bill's implementation, Apple does use credit card requests to the connected adult account in creating the child account.

It's not just Apple that has this in place. Google also has its own parental management system, which will also face scrutiny due to the discussion of the bill.

One element of the bill that won't sit well with Apple is that it effectively shifts the blame for any lapses to it and Google. This is ridiculous.

Currently, the onus is placed on the creator apps and services to work to protect children from content, which, frankly, is how it should be. However, by requiring Apple and Google to make the checks in their respective storefronts, there is less of a need for those services to worry about being attacked by parent groups and critics.

It therefore won't be Facebook's fault for its moderation system constantly letting explicit material slip through like it does now, nor a web browser providing access to an adult website.

It'll be Apple or Google instead of who's actually responsible, because those App Stores had to do the first set of age checks.

Original Submission