Apple steps up lobbying against age-verification laws

Apple steps up lobbying against age-verification laws

What you probably already know: Apple is fighting a wave of new legislation aimed at stemming teens’ access to social media. Many of these apps have been used to sell drugs to children or recruit them for sex, and the new laws would restrict apps’ ability to collect data on children and serve them targeted content, which is how some predators are locating kids online. The Wall Street Journal took a look at one Louisiana Representative who was trying to push through a bill that put the onus on smartphone makers as well as app developers to protect kids — he quickly found himself in Apple’s lobbying crosshairs.

Why? Social media experts suggest that age verification systems installed on smartphones by the makers will allow the app makers to more easily restrict content. Without it, each app would have to develop its own system. Apple, however, wants to avoid being the gatekeeper and instead says social media companies are the ones who are best positioned to verify their users’ ages.

What it means: The battle really comes down to a disagreement between Apple and Meta, both of which are blaming each other for lax restrictions that allow children to access dangerous content. Meta is now teaming up with other app developers like Match Group, which makes Tinder, to try to force Apple and Google to share users’ age data with the apps. Apple claims this violates their privacy rules.

What happens now? Louisiana is the first state to try to enforce these age restrictions but many others are looking at introducing similar bills. Some are teaming up with high-school students to develop the legislation, which would impose significant fines if platforms don’t comply. Apple has spent $4.2 million on lobbying so far this year, according to Open Secrets. Tech companies have spent millions lobbying against bills like the Kids Online Safety Act, and have found themselves on the same side as the American Civil Liberties Union and conservative groups like Patriot Voices, arguing these laws can restrict free speech.

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