Apple CEO Tim Cook has personally urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to veto a proposed law that would require age verification on all app store accounts. The bill, passed with strong support in the state legislature, aims to give parents more control over children’s app downloads—but Apple sees it differently.
If signed into law, the bill would make Texas the largest state to require app store operators to verify every user’s age. For minors, a parent or guardian would need to approve all app downloads.
Apple Warns of Privacy Risks
Apple says the bill, while framed as a child safety measure, could threaten user privacy. The company argues that verifying every user’s age would require collecting and storing sensitive data—such as government-issued IDs—even from adults.
To fight the legislation, Apple has taken aggressive steps. Cook called the governor directly, and Apple sent six lobbyists to Texas. The company also funded local ads criticizing the bill, with one ad claiming it was “backed by porn websites”—a controversial attempt to sway public opinion.
Apple Says Existing Tools Already Work
Apple believes the bill is unnecessary. Its devices already offer parental controls like “Ask to Buy,” which requires parental approval before a child can download an app. Safari also includes filters to block adult content.
However, critics argue that these tools require setup and monitoring by parents, while the bill would enforce age controls by default.
Other Tech Giants Support the Bill
Interestingly, companies like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Snap support the bill. They argue that centralizing age verification at the app store level would reduce the need for each app to collect user data.
Apple disagrees, warning that concentrating sensitive data in one place could make it a bigger target for misuse.
A Larger Regulatory Trend
The Texas bill follows similar legislation in Utah and reflects a growing trend among U.S. states to regulate tech companies in the absence of federal laws. Governor Abbott is still reviewing the bill, but Cook’s direct appeal shows how high the stakes are for Apple’s business model and user trust.
