Archive — US — techcrunch
Apple CEO reportedly urged Texas’ governor to ditch online child safety bill
Apple CEO Tim Cook urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to either amend or veto a new child safety law requiring age verification for device owners, which poses privacy concerns. The bill links minors' accounts to parents for monitoring app downloads. While supporters claim it empowers parents, Apple warns of excessive data collection. Nine additional states are considering similar legislation.
Key points
- Tim Cook contacted Greg Abbott about the child safety law in Texas.
- The law mandates age verification linked to parental accounts for minors using devices.
- Apple and Google are lobbying against the bill due to privacy concerns.
- If enacted, the law would require sensitive personal information collection from users.
- Supporters argue it enhances parental control over children's smartphone usage.
- At least nine other states are considering similar bills.
- Apple successfully stopped a similar bill in Louisiana last year, but it is under review again.
Why it matters
- This situation reflects ongoing debates about child online safety versus user privacy.
- The trend towards stricter regulations on technology companies is increasing, especially regarding user data.
- By 2025, many states may adopt similar privacy-focused regulations in response to growing concerns about children's safety online.
The controversy over Texas' child safety bill highlights the tension between safeguarding minors and protecting user privacy, a conflict likely to escalate as states seek to regulate technology more stringently.