WASHINGTON—Two conservative Republican lawmakers in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation last week that would require age verification for app stores at the national level. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Rep. John James of Michigan serve as the sponsors of the bill, dubbed the App Store Accountability Act.
“For too long, Big Tech has profited from app stores through which children in America and across the world access violent and sexual material while risking contact from online predators,” explained Lee in a joint press statement. “Our legislation brings age verification and accountability to the source of the problem.”
Sen. Lee's colleague, Rep. James, added, "Kids cannot consent—and any company that exposes them to addictive or adult material should be held accountable."
According to material offered by the supporters of the App Store Accountability Act, over 50 right-wing groups support the measure. These include noteworthy groups at the center of the present-day anti-pornography movement, including Project 2025 member organizations, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and a coalition called the Digital Childhood Alliance. Similar to a new Utah law that requires age checks at the point of download for a mobile app, the proposal that is before Congress now is attracting support from right-wing and far-right "child protection" groups. Many are classified as anti-LGBTQ+ or anti-government hate groups.
It is worth noting that X, along with Meta Platforms and Snap Inc. (the respective parent companies of Facebook and Snapchat), have endorsed the conservative bill. For example, Evan Spiegel, chief executive officer of Snap, wrote in a guest column for The Hill last week that he supports age verification at the app store level in opposition to firms that control the app stores and operating systems—Apple, who controls the Apple App Store and iOS for iPads and iPhones, and Google, which controls Android and Google Play.
"No system will be flawless," explained Spiegel. "The key is maximizing benefits while reducing downsides.
"That’s why I believe initial age verification should happen at the operating system or app store level. In addition to the safeguards already put in place by many app developers, it’s the best way to address the concerns many have about age verification while also meeting the broad and growing demand to find best-practice-level approaches to enable it," Spiegel added. A statement from Meta, X and Snap sent to The Hill, confirms their support.
All three major social media companies shared in the joint statement, "By centralizing this process within the app store, parents are spared the burden of repeated approvals and age verification requirements across the countless apps their teens use—an approach that has been introduced by seventeen states this year alone."
Meta, Spotify, Match Group and Garmin also just founded a brand new lobbying organization led by veteran government relations professional Brandon Kressin. Kressin, an attorney with training from the New York University School of Law, is a partner in the antitrust boutique law firm Kressin Powers LLC.
The lobbying group, called the Coalition for a Competitive Mobile Experience, is focused on antitrust measures and breaking up tech monopolies like Google and Apple, despite the companies bankrolling the coalition being viewed as monopolies in their own right. For example, Match controls nearly 60 percent of the online dating market in the U.S.
Organizations that have already come out in opposition to the App Store Accountability Act include civil liberties groups and other tech industry trade groups.
The Computer and Communications Industry Association voiced opposition to the federal App Store Accountability Act, calling it "unconstitutional."
Matt Schruers, president and CEO of the association, said in a statement: "Keeping young people safe online is a shared priority, but mandating identity and biometric collection to go online is not the path forward. Decisions about what content is suitable for teens are best made around the kitchen table."
LGBT Tech, a technology-focused LGBTQ+ advocacy collective, also voiced its concerns when the state of Utah adopted age verification for app stores.
The group said, "LGBTQ+ youth are not just another category of 'minors' to protect—they face distinct challenges that demand thoughtful, inclusive policy solutions. Protecting youth should mean preserving their access to safety, affirmation, and community." This is of concern to LGBTQ+ activists because age check policies can expose queer youth to surveillance and force them to give up anonymity. These measures could also block access to vital, identity-affirming content that many rely on when offline support is unsafe or unavailable.
