Miller Provides Sponsor Testimony for the App Store Accountability Act
COLUMBUS – State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) provided sponsor testimony in the House Judiciary Committee for House Bill 226, the App Store Accountability Act – legislation that would require age verification for all app store purchases or downloads for minors.
The App Store Accountability Act aims to enhance online safety and ensure that minors cannot download apps on their phones without parental consent. App stores would be required to send a notification to the parent with the option to approve or deny the download. Parents would only need to confirm their child’s age once within the app store instead of going app by app.
House Bill 226 will:
- Ensure parental consent for minors under the age of 18;
- Hold app stores accountable by prohibiting contracts or terms of service with minors and penalize misrepresentation of information in a parental consent disclosure;
- Protect user privacy by limiting data collection to only what is necessary to verify a user’s age.
“Smartphones have brought significant benefits, but they have also exposed our children to various risks, such as inappropriate online content, cyberbullying, and growing mental health concerns,” said Miller. “By requiring age verification for app store downloads and transactions, we can take a substantial step toward protecting our youth from these dangers.”
This legislation will position Ohio as a leader in child safety online and parental consent following numerous other states that have introduced similar legislation.
To see Miller’s full testimony click here.
House Bill 226 now awaits additional hearings in the House Judiciary Committee.
