Apple Escalates Fight Over Texas Age Verification Bill

Apple CEO Tim Cook personally called Texas Governor Greg Abbott to urge him to veto or amend a bill requiring app stores to verify users' ages and link minors' accounts to parents. The bill passed the Texas legislature with veto-proof majorities and could make Texas the largest state with such a law, setting a precedent for others. Apple argues the law would force app stores to collect sensitive data from all users, raising privacy concerns, and contends age verification should be done at the app level instead. The company has increased lobbying, funded ad campaigns—some controversially claiming the bill is 'backed by porn websites'—and highlighted its new privacy-preserving child safety tools. Governor Abbott has not yet indicated if he will sign the bill, stating child safety and online privacy are his priorities. Similar measures are under consideration in other states and federally.