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App Store Accountability Act (App Store Accountability)

What the ASAAt Does

What is the App Store Accountability Act

Why this Matters for Families

Where the App Store Accountability Act is happening

App Store Accountability Act

Protecting Kids. Empowering Parents. 
​Every app your child downloads starts in one place: the app store. That’s where accountability belongs.​
88%
of parents support requiring parental approval before kids can download apps
100+
child advocacy organizations have endorsed this legislation
3
states where ASAA is already law — Utah, Texas & Louisiana
Bipartisan
support in Congress and state legislatures across the country
App Store Accountability Act — Child First Policy Center Preview
Where This Is Happening

ASAA Is Already Law — And Spreading Fast

This is real, this is moving, and your state could be next. See where the App Store Accountability Act stands today.

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ASAA is already law in multiple states and advancing nationwide with strong bipartisan support.

What the ASAA Does

A Simple, Bipartisan Solution

The App Store Accountability Act restores parental authority and protects children online — without regulating speech or content.

  1. 1

    Requires parental permission

    Kids cannot agree to app contracts without a parent involved. Before your child downloads any app or makes any in-app purchase, the app store must notify you and get your approval.

  2. 2

    Ensures honest, accurate app ratings

    Parents get clear, accurate information about what an app does and what data it collects before they say yes. No more fine-print surprises.

  3. 3

    Verifies age at the app store level — done once

    Age verification happens once, privately and securely, when an account is created. No ID uploads required. If a user is under 18, their account is linked to a parent account so you're always in the loop.

  4. 4

    Notifies parents when apps significantly change

    If an app your child already uses changes its data practices, content rating, or key features, you're notified and asked to re-approve before those changes apply to your child.

  5. 5

    Creates real accountability

    App stores and developers that knowingly violate the law or misrepresent information to parents face enforcement by the FTC, state attorneys general, and a private right of action for families.


What This Law Is Not

About Contracts, Transparency, and Parental Rights

Let's be clear about what the App Store Accountability Act does not do:

Not censorship

It doesn't restrict what apps exist or what content they can offer.

Not content regulation

It targets the transaction and the contract, not speech or expression.

Not a social media ban

Parents decide what their child can access. The law just ensures they're asked first.

Not requiring ID uploads

Age is verified using existing account data — no biometric scans or document uploads.

The legal foundation: contract law

In the real world, children cannot enter binding contracts without a parent. Online, it happens millions of times a day when kids download apps and agree to terms of service. The ASAA applies this same legal standard to digital transactions — where it has never existed before.

Privacy Protections

Why This Approach Actually Protects Privacy

Most proposals force every individual app to collect and verify sensitive personal data. The ASAA does the opposite — centralizing verification once so apps never need to handle it themselves.

Account created

Age verified once at the app store — no IDs, no repeated checks

Parent linked

Minor accounts connect to a parent account automatically

Parent approves

You're notified and give consent for every download

Apps get age signal only

Developers receive only an age category — not personal data

  • Verification happens once at the app store — not repeatedly across every app
  • Developers receive only an age category, not personal data or identification
  • No biometric scans, no third-party tracking, no broad data sharing
  • Age verification data cannot be sold or used beyond what the law strictly allows
  • Parents stay in control — with less risk to their child's data than the current system

Safer than requiring every app to collect sensitive data

The current system — where each app independently tries to collect age data — creates more privacy risk, not less. ASAA concentrates the responsibility where it is easiest to enforce and easiest to protect.


The Problem We're Solving

Right Now, Kids Sign Digital Contracts Without Their Parents

Here is exactly what happens today — every time a child downloads an app.

What happens right now when your child downloads an app →
Child picks up phone
No parental involvement
INSTALL
Opens app store
Browses freely, any age
Taps "install"
Legal contract appears
No one reads it
AGREE & CONTINUE
Taps "agree"
Signs legal contract
Parent not asked. Age unknown.
$
App gets their data
Location, photos, behavior
Legally — they agreed
3rd parties
Data is sold
Advertisers & brokers
All legal. All hidden.
NOT NOTIFIED
Parent never told
No notification required
No consent. No knowledge.
∞millions of times / day
Happens again
Every app, every time
Millions of kids daily

In the real world, children cannot sign binding contracts alone. Online, it happens millions of times a day — and the law currently allows it.

Why app stores — not individual apps — are the right place to act

There are hundreds of thousands of apps, but only two major app stores. Instead of trying to regulate every app, the ASAA focuses accountability at the gateway. That makes it more effective, easier to enforce, more constitutional, and less burdensome for small developers.

What This Means for Families

With ASAA, Parents Are in Control

  • You know what apps your child has — and what those apps actually do
  • You approve downloads before they happen — no more surprises
  • Kids are protected from hidden contracts and data collection they can't understand
  • Families regain meaningful control over their child's digital life
  • You're notified when apps change — and you decide whether to allow those changes
"For too long, Big Tech has made it nearly impossible to know what our kids are downloading, agreeing to, or being exposed to. While they monetize our children, parents are totally left out of the loop. The App Store Accountability Act gives parents an important tool to protect their children online and off."
— Andrea Sparks, Not On Our Watch

For Legislators and Staff

Why the ASAA Is Built to Last

This is carefully constructed policy grounded in existing law and designed for constitutional durability.

  • Bipartisan and already passed into law in multiple states
  • Backed by 100+ child advocacy organizations
  • Built on contract law and consumer protection — not content regulation
  • Does not regulate speech, restrict First Amendment rights, or define content as harmful
  • Designed to withstand constitutional challenges

Legislative Resources Available

  • Model legislation for your state
  • Legislative brief and FAQ packet
  • Research, citations, and testimony materials
  • Legal analysis and downloadable resources
  • Policy team available for briefings and implementation support
Request a Briefing → Read the Model Legislation → View Legislative Brief + FAQs →
Legal Record & Coalition

Amicus Briefs & Supporting Organizations

Track filed briefs and display coalition logos. Both sections are fully editable — add, update, or remove at any time.

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    Take Action Today

    Whether you're a parent or a policymaker, your voice makes a real difference.

    If you're a parent

    Make Your Voice Heard

    • Share this page with other parents
    • Contact your state legislators
    • Contact your federal representatives
    • Join our community for updates
    Contact My Representative → Get Updates
    If you're a policymaker

    Champion This in Your State

    • Request a bill draft for your state
    • Connect with our policy team
    • Review implementation support materials
    • Schedule a constituent briefing
    Request a Briefing → View Legislative Resources
    100+

    Organizations Standing Together

    The App Store Accountability Act is supported by over 100 organizations working together to protect children in the digital age. Child First Policy Center serves as a national leader in advancing this legislation alongside partners across the country.

    Learn More

    For Those Who Want to Go Deeper

    Detailed answers to the questions legislators, journalists, and engaged parents most often ask about how the ASAA works in practice.

    How Age Verification Works

    1. 1

      User creates an app store account

      Age information is collected once at account creation — no repeated verification across every app, no ID scanning required.

    2. 2

      Age is verified and categorized

      The app store determines the user's age category and stores it securely using industry-standard encryption.

    3. 3

      Minor accounts are linked to a parent

      If the user is under 18, their account must be affiliated with a verified parent account — automatically.

    4. 4

      Parent approves every download and purchase

      Before any app is downloaded or any purchase is made, the parent is notified and must give consent.

    5. 5

      Re-consent required when apps change significantly

      If an app changes its data practices, content rating, or key features, the parent is notified again and must re-approve before changes apply.

    No IDs. No repeated verification. No third-party tracking.


    Legal Framework and Constitutionality

    The ASAA is grounded in contract law and consumer protection — not First Amendment territory. Minors cannot enter binding contracts without parental consent. That is an established legal principle. The ASAA applies this standard to digital transactions, filling a gap that has allowed tech companies to operate without the accountability applied to every other industry serving children.

    It does not regulate content. It does not restrict free speech. It does not define what children should or should not see. It simply ensures a parent is part of the transaction — the same way they are in the physical world.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does this mean my child can't use apps?

    No. Your child can still use any app — with your approval. This law puts you in charge of the decision, the same way a movie theater requires a parent for a child to see a mature film.

    Does this require kids to upload government IDs?

    No. The law uses existing account data to determine age category and explicitly prohibits age verification from requiring government ID submissions.

    Which states have already passed this?

    Utah was the first (effective May 2025), followed by Texas and Louisiana. Bills are introduced or advancing in Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Illinois, Tennessee, Vermont, New Hampshire, and more. A federal version has been introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (UT) and Rep. John James (MI).

    Is this bipartisan?

    Yes. The federal ASAA has been introduced by Republican and Democratic legislators alike, and polling consistently shows overwhelming parent support across party, geographic, and demographic lines.

    What about small app developers?

    The ASAA places the primary compliance burden on app stores — the two gatekeepers with the resources to build these systems. Small developers receive only an age-category signal and do not need to independently build age-verification infrastructure.

    The Bottom Line

    • Kids enter binding digital contracts every day without parents
      ASAA fixes the system at the source
      Simple. Effective. Already working.
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