The draft SB 2420, which is adopted in Texas, the USA, brings a new obligation to directly affect the functioning of digital application stores. According to the bill, Apple and similar companies will have to verify the age of every user who accesses their stores. This verification will be valid not only for social media applications, but also for simple services such as weather or news. Companies will have to get identity information from each user and store this information.
Apple believes that if this regulation enters into force, the personal privacy of users will be seriously endangered. Expressing this concern openly to the public, the company carries serious reservations about the scope and applicability of the law. According to Apple’s statement, such a practice targets much more than just protecting children and pushes privacy limits. This law, which can affect millions of users throughout Texas, is currently waiting for the approval of Governor Greg Abbott.
It is stated that Tim Cook is activated directly in this process. The company’s Tepe Manager, in his phone call with Governor Abbott, demanded that the bill be given to the bill completely or a change in certain items. Although it is stated that the interview is in a warm atmosphere, it remains unclear what direction the result will be. The Governor’s Front will carefully evaluate the bill, and they will carefully approach this text as well as every text of the law.
Apple argues that age verification will exceed the limits of privacy
In addition to all these, the SB 2420 points to a issue that concerns not only Apple but also other major technology companies. Meta approaches such legal regulations from a different place and argues that the obligation to age verification should be responsible for direct device manufacturers and application stores. This attitude of Meta is in harmony with the state laws that want to limit young people to reach social media platforms without a parental permission.
Apple advocates the protection of children in an online environment, but in the opinion that the solution cannot be achieved in this way. The company argues that the SB 2420 demands excessive data from the user and that this may have inconvenient results. Apple’s proposal is that this issue is not at the level of states, but in a federal framework. In this context, there is another bill of federal law, Apple’s supported “Kids Online Safety Act ğı supported by Apple.
It is seen that SB 2420 can affect not only application stores but also many platforms that offer internet service. It is thought that if the bill enters into force, it can create a precedent not only Texas but also for other states that take similar steps. Similar arrangements have already been accepted in some states such as Utah. The laws, especially for adult sites, are currently on the agenda of the Supreme Court.
Apple argues that the parental control features that are already in their devices are too sensitive and volunteering to be compared to such laws. However, the legal obligations brought with the bill will create a responsibility beyond volunteering. This may complicate both the user experience and the legal obligations of companies. Companies may face serious sanctions if an open in age verification systems.
All these developments raise a new kind of friction between technology companies and lawmakers. Groups such as Meta and Free Speech Coalition advocate the tightening of age control; Apple and civilian freedom defenders think that these practices will damage individual rights. Although the law supporters state that children will be more safe in an online environment, there are serious differences in the method.
Google is on both sides of this discussion. The company, which is both the owner of the Android operating system and the manager of video -based platforms like Youtube, is distant to both bills. Google’s support for various lobbying activities in this regard. The position of the company can directly affect the process for both application developers and users.
Although this bill, which is on the agenda in Texas, seems to be only a local regulation, it has clues about how to shape digital privacy and data security throughout the USA. Apple’s opposite stance once again reveals the differences in the approach between the great players in the world of technology. In case of legalization, SB 2420 similar initiatives can gain speed in other states.
The future of these discussions seems to be largely dependent on the decision of the Governor of Texas Abbott. It is understood that the discussions on data safety and user privacy between technology companies and local governments, regardless of the direction, will not end easily. In any case, the discussion of age verification will continue to be evaluated in a wider framework in the coming period.