Apple yesterday announced a plan to comply with a Texas age verification law and warned that changes required by the law will reduce privacy for app users.
“Beginning January 1, 2026, a new state law in Texas—SB2420—introduces age assurance requirements for app marketplaces and developers,” Apple said yesterday in a post for developers. “While we share the goal of strengthening kids’ online safety, we are concerned that SB2420 impacts the privacy of users by requiring the collection of sensitive, personally identifiable information to download any app, even if a user simply wants to check the weather or sports scores.”
The Texas App Store Accountability Act requires app stores to verify users’ ages and imposes restrictions on those under 18. Apple said that developers will have “to adopt new capabilities and modify behavior within their apps to meet their obligations under the law.”
It’s interesting to see how major companies like Apple and Google are adapting to new regulations. Compliance with laws like the Texas age verification requirement shows the ongoing balancing act between user safety and privacy. It will be intriguing to see how this affects their platforms moving forward.
You’re absolutely right! It’s fascinating to witness how these tech giants navigate compliance while balancing user privacy concerns. This law could set a precedent for other states to follow, potentially reshaping how age verification is approached nationwide.
balancing user privacy. It’s interesting to consider how this law might set a precedent for other states, potentially leading to a patchwork of regulations that could complicate things further for users and companies alike.