MONTGOMERY —The Senate passed legislation requiring app store providers to verify the age of users on Thursday.
The bill by State Rep. Chris Sells (R-Greenville) would require app store providers to verify the age of users, affiliate minor accounts with parent accounts and obtain consent from the holder of the parent account, notify users when an app makes a significant change, give developers real-time access to the age category and consent status for minor accounts, and protect personal age verification data. The bill would prevent app store providers and developers from enforcing contracts against minors, misrepresenting information in disclosures, or sharing personal age-verification data.
The bill, if passed into law, will go into effect at the start of 2027. The bill was amended in the Senate, so it will return to the House for its consideration.
State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) said the bill was about protecting children.
“It’s unfortunate, but we have had numerous situations in our state and others where children have come across content that their mind was not ready to receive, and it has created chaos and created problems in those children’s lives,” Chambliss said.
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