Apple and Google push state bills to curb app-store safety lawsuits

Apple and Google are actively lobbying state legislators to enact child-online-safety measures that would shield them from lawsuits claiming platform design caused harm. Their campaign, revealed through draft legislation, internal communications and interviews with insiders, has gained momentum as federal action on the issue has stalled. The firms are promoting templates that include age-verification mandates, prompting criticism from some technology-safety advocates.

This effort coincides with a wave of litigation targeting tech platforms, including multistate cases seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta for alleged addictive design and a New Mexico jury award of $375 million for consumer-protection violations. Meta disputes the claims, arguing that social-media addiction is not a recognized medical condition. The lobbying underscores the growing legal pressure on major tech companies over youth safety on their services.