Critics warn $70 billion child-safety bill could hurt small developers
A developer-led critique argues the App Store Accountability Act would leave children exposed to harmful content while imposing costly burdens on small app makers.
The author, a father and head of the Developers Alliance, challenges the effectiveness of the App Store Accountability Act, noting that it merely mandates age collection and parental consent without obligating apps to filter content based on age signals. Consequently, platforms like Roblox could still expose children to violent or profane material. The bill also excludes web-downloaded and pre-installed apps, creating a sizable loophole.
Small developers would face an estimated $20,000 per year per app to handle age data, potentially adding up to $70 billion across the ecosystem. The author argues the measure may infringe First Amendment rights by forcing ID verification for educational or news apps. A competing proposal, the Parents Over Platforms Act, would target only adult-oriented or dual-experience apps and extend requirements to web-based downloads, offering a more balanced approach.
Why it matters
The legislation could reshape how children access apps and impose huge costs on the tech industry.
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