Apple Explains How It Will Comply With App Store Age Verification Requirements In Texas

Earlier this year,Texas passed a law requiring app stores to verify nan ages of their users. Now, Apple has shared more astir really it plans to comply pinch requirements, which are slated to spell into effect adjacent year.

Beginning January 1, 2026, group successful Texas creating caller Apple accounts will request to verify that they are complete nan property of 18, Apple said. And anyone nether 18 will beryllium required to nexus their relationship to a genitor aliases guardian's via nan company's Family Sharing settings. Parents will past beryllium prompted to o.k. each of their child's downloads, in-app purchases and different transactions. 

While Apple didn't explicate precisely really it will behaviour property verification, nan institution noted that developers will besides request to make changes successful bid to comply pinch nan Texas law. The institution is moving connected caller developer devices truthful app makers tin instrumentality parental consent requirements and different age-restricted features. 

The Declared Age Range API is disposable to instrumentality now, and will beryllium updated successful nan coming months to supply nan required property categories for caller relationship users successful Texas. And caller APIs launching later this twelvemonth will alteration developers, erstwhile they find a important alteration is made to their app, to invoke a strategy acquisition to let nan personification to petition that parental consent beryllium re-obtained. Additionally, parents will beryllium capable to revoke consent for a insignificant continuing to usage an app. More details, including further method documentation, will beryllium released later this fall.

Apple had opposed nan rule and CEO Tim Cook personally lobbied Texas Governor Greg Abbott to veto nan measure. In its latest update, nan institution made clear that it still isn't enthusiastic astir Texas' approach. "While we stock nan extremity of strengthening kids’ online safety, we are concerned that SB2420 impacts nan privateness of users by requiring nan postulation of sensitive, personally identifiable accusation to download immoderate app, moreover if a personification simply wants to cheque nan upwind aliases sports scores," Apple said successful its statement to developers. 

Though Texas' property verification rule for app stores  will beryllium nan first to take, it isn't nan only authorities to instrumentality specified requirements. Utah and Louisiana person besides passed laws requiring app stores to behaviour property verification checks. Those measures will besides return effect successful 2026.