In response to Texas Senate Bill 2420 (SB2420), Apple has announced forthcoming changes to its App Store policies, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. This legislation mandates age verification for app store users and requires parental consent for minors, aiming to enhance online safety for children.
User Account Modifications
Starting in 2026, individuals in Texas creating a new Apple Account must confirm whether they are 18 years or older. For users under 18, the account must be linked to a Family Sharing group, enabling parents or guardians to oversee and approve all App Store downloads, purchases, and in-app transactions. This measure ensures that minors have explicit adult supervision when accessing digital content.
Developer Obligations
Developers distributing apps in Texas will need to adapt their applications to align with the new legal requirements. Apple is updating its Declared Age Range API to assist developers in obtaining users’ age categories in a privacy-conscious manner. This API will be enhanced to provide the necessary age categories for new account users in Texas. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce new APIs that will allow developers to prompt users to re-obtain parental consent when significant changes are made to an app. Parents will also have the capability to revoke consent, thereby preventing minors from continuing to use an app if deemed inappropriate.
Privacy Concerns
While Apple supports the goal of strengthening online safety for children, the company has expressed concerns about the potential privacy implications of SB2420. The law requires the collection of sensitive, personally identifiable information from users, even for downloading non-sensitive apps like weather or sports score applications. Apple emphasizes its commitment to providing tools that enhance child safety while safeguarding user privacy within the constraints of the law.
Broader Implications
Although SB2420 is specific to Texas, similar legislation is anticipated in other states. Apple has indicated that comparable requirements will come into effect later in 2026 for users in Utah and Louisiana, based on legislation in those states. This trend reflects a growing movement toward implementing age verification and parental consent mechanisms across various jurisdictions to protect minors online.
Conclusion
Apple’s proactive measures to comply with Texas’s new age verification law underscore the company’s dedication to balancing child safety with user privacy. By updating its APIs and requiring parental oversight for minors, Apple aims to create a safer digital environment for younger users while addressing the privacy concerns associated with collecting personal information.
