A statewide poll shows strong support for the App Store Accountability Act which requires parental approval for minors to download apps on their smart devices. Louisiana Family Forum CEO Gene Mills says the legislation seeks to protect children from harmful content, misleading ratings and exploitative contracts.
“Every time an app is downloaded, a contract is agreed upon. That child is enlisting a contractual agreement on the terms of service. And there’s about $3 billion exchange annually on those app downloads. The average kid goes to about 40 apps a week,” Mills said.
The App Store Accountability Act is House Bill 570, authored by Mandeville Representative Kim Carver. The House voted 99-0 on the bill and it still needs Senate approval before the legislative session ends June 12.
Mills says passing HB 570 will hold app stores accountable and prioritize family safety.
“House Bill 570 simply levels the playing field by telling the app stores you can no longer have unlimited access to our child without first gaining parental consent,” Mills explained.
Mills says 88% of the parents polled by JMC Analytics supported the App Store Accountability Act.
Opponents of the legislation say the bill creates new data privacy and security problems and it doesn’t address the fact that children can access harmful content on websites as well as apps. But Mills says parents want Big Tech to put technology in place to make sure they approve their kids’ app store downloads.
“It’s been a clash of the Titans, and it’s over a very simple question: Are we going to level the playing field by giving parents the proper tools they need to simply say ‘No thank you. Not all my watch, and not with my child,'” Mills said.
The Senate Commerce Committee is set to hear the App Store Accountability Act this afternoon.
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