Disruption

App store age-gating bills advance

The legislative battle over who should be responsible for age checks has pitted Apple and Google against social media companies.
Apple’s App Store icon. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Alabama lawmakers are fast-tracking a Meta-backed bill to require Apple and Google to age-gate their app stores to protect kids, one of several states considering such measures despite a recent court ruling that blocked a similar Texas law.

The Alabama House passed the measure last month, and a Senate committee advanced it last week, both on unanimous votes. The Senate approved a similar bill last year. 

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