Texas Governor Signs Off on App Store Law Against Tim Cook's Wishes

[MacRumors]

Texas Governor Greg Abbott today signed into law the App Store Accountability Act, which will require Apple and Google to verify the age of App Store and Play Store users, respectively. The law will require users who are under the age of 18 to receive parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases, according to Reuters.

Apple CEO Tim Cook had reportedly asked Abbott to veto the legislation on a phone call, but evidently his attempt was unsuccessful.

The bill had already passed both the Senate and House of Representatives in Texas, and now that it has been signed by Abbott, it will take effect on January 1, 2026. Texas is the second U.S. state to pass a child safety law of this kind, following Utah in March. Utah's law took effect earlier this month, but it will not be fully enforced until next year.

Apple already announced several new child safety measures in February, after these bills were proposed. While setting up an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or later, the person who will be using the device must select their age range, with the available options including 12 or younger, 13 to 18, and 19 or older. If the account is for a child under the age of 13, there is a Connect to Family option. A parent needs to provide consent for a child to use the ‌App Store‌ and other features, with Face ID or Touch ID authentication required.

It remains to be seen if Apple's expanded age-verification measures will be enough to fully satisfy the laws in Texas and Utah, and others that may follow.

Apple and Google both opposed these age verification laws, citing privacy concerns related to having to collect age information for all users.

"If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it's an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores," said Apple.

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Article Link: Texas Governor Signs Off on App Store Law Against Tim Cook's Wishes

 

[Morod]

Apple, end all commerce with Texas ASAP.

 

[gbc204]

The Party of Small Government out here governmenting again...

 

[Kottu]

Just verify the age at Appstore. Then there is no need for developers to check age of each and every person.

 

[It’s always something]

The Party of Small Government out here governmenting again...

Yep, in the state of Small Government.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple CEO Tim Cook had reportedly asked Abbott to veto the legislation on a phone call, but evidently his attempt was unsuccessful.

A phone call? Cook should have donated to Abbott's inauguration fund

 

[surferfb]

This is a rare occurrence where I agree with the Texas government. If this data is getting collected, I much prefer to give my information to Apple than every random developer whose app I want to download.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple, end all commerce with Texas ASAP.

Apple should relocate the planned Texas AI server factory

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/24/apple-to-open-texas-ai-server-factory-in-500-billion-us-expansion.html

• Apple said it will work with partners to open a 250,000-square-foot AI server manufacturing facility in Houston.
• The new factory, which is slated to open in 2026, will form part of a $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Well, color me confused because the Republican's new "Big Beautiful Bill" thinks 7 year old's can be self-dependent.
I guess 7 is old enough to work and get money to buy food, but not download apps on the App Store.

Unpacking claims GOP's 'big beautiful bill' lowers age of dependents from 18 to 7 years old

The bill lowers the age of dependents from under 18 to under seven years old, but only in the context of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

www.snopes.com

 

[Cameront9]

Ah, another law that's impossible to enforce. sure.

 

[jlc1978]

So if you don’t adequately verify is the default under age and who decides if an app is age restricted?

 

[spartan1967]

There’s always a work around with these age verification laws. Apple just needs to do what it needs to do to comply & let the kids handle the rest.

 

[xander49x]

it's time to move out of Taxes and Utah, both places suck before the law, now it even worse. I have been to both and was happy when I left. #boycotttexs #gregabbottlooser #boycottutah

 

[staypuftforums]

Good for the governor.

 

[staypuftforums]

it's time to move out of Taxes and Utah, both places suck before the law, now it even worse. I have been to both and was happy when I left. #boycotttexs #gregabbottlooser #boycottutah

Texas has the largest net migration INTO the state in the entire US.

Why would you oppose this law, exactly? So much so that you’d move? LOL

 

[staypuftforums]

Well, color me confused because the Republican's new "Big Beautiful Bill" thinks 7 year old's can be self-dependent.
I guess 7 is old enough to work and get money to buy food, but not download apps on the App Store.

Unpacking claims GOP's 'big beautiful bill' lowers age of dependents from 18 to 7 years old

The bill lowers the age of dependents from under 18 to under seven years old, but only in the context of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

www.snopes.com

Texas governor has no involvement in that bill, for starters.

And I already know your claim is wildly misleading without even looking into it.

 

[It’s always something]

it's time to move out of Taxes and Utah, both places suck before the law, now it even worse. I have been to both and was happy when I left. #boycotttexs #gregabbottlooser #boycottutah

Texas politics are pretty horrible at this time. A few years back the state GOP passed a resolution renouncing the 2020 election results, thereby formally declaring that they were seditious. The weather sucks too. But normal/non-political people you meet everyday are very friendly.

 

[mansplains]

Just verify the age at Appstore. Then there is no need for developers to check age of each and every person.

This is a rare occurrence where I agree with the Texas government. If this data is getting collected, I much prefer to give my information to Apple than every random developer whose app I want to download.

It could be integrated with DL in wallet too. Website or app asks for age, double click wallet like Apple Pay, it communicates a binary pass/fail. No need to give the actual number or DoB to anyone else.

 

[It’s always something]

And I already know your claim is wildly misleading without even looking into it.

You should read the link: the Big Wealth-Transferring Bill reduces the age of a dependent to “under 7” for purposes of SNAP. So: no help for you if you have kids that are 8, 9, 14…

 

[robd003]

Isn't every kid just going to select 18+ or 21+ when asked their age when setting up an account the first time?

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Age verification is very annoying for adults. I do not want to tell anyone my age or even more private data. That also is the problem with adult content. Nobody wants to be verified at P...hub.

 

[derekamoss]

The only reason Apple and Google are opposed to this is because they make so much money of kids spamming the buy button on the app stores without parents permission. In a perfect world the parents would be responsible enough to stop this. This is one law I have no problem with.
For those complaining about it collecting age information, how many websites or even YouTube videos already ask for age verification and collect it.

 

[It’s always something]

It could be integrated with DL in wallet too. Website or app asks for age, double click wallet like Apple Pay, it communicates a binary pass/fail. No need to give the actual number or DoB to anyone else.

This is a decent idea, but Texas would have to have DLs added to Apple Wallet first.

 

[ApostolisApo]

Apple, end all commerce with Texas ASAP.

Are we sure that it's not some EU infiltrators there trying to regulate Apple?

 

[derekamoss]

Isn't every kid just going to select 18+ or 21+ when asked their age when setting up an account the first time?

If a kid is underage a parent should be setting up the phone if they are worried about it. Some are and some aren't. Depends on how much you trust your child.