California’s New Internet Age-Verification Law Takes Effect
▼ Summary
– California has enacted the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), requiring device operating systems and app stores to collect user age information during setup.
– The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, with companies facing fines up to $7,500 per child for violations, while being protected from liability for good-faith compliance errors.
– Governor Newsom stated the law aims to protect children from online harm while promoting responsible technology development, alongside other child safety legislation.
– The bill received support from Meta and Google, with Google praising its thoughtful approach to shared responsibility for child safety.
– Unlike some other state laws, California’s measure does not require parental consent for app downloads or the submission of government IDs for age verification.
California has officially enacted a new internet age-verification law, joining several other states in a push to enhance online safety for minors. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1043, the Digital Age Assurance Act, which requires operating systems and app stores to collect age or date-of-birth information during the setup of new phones and computers. This regulation is scheduled to become active on January 1, 2027. For devices already in use before that date, companies like Apple and Google must implement a method for users to provide their age details by July 1, 2027. Penalties for noncompliance can reach $2,500 per affected child for negligent violations and up to $7,500 for intentional ones, though the law does offer liability protection for companies that demonstrate a good-faith effort to follow the rules.
In a statement released alongside the signing of this and other child safety bills, Governor Newsom emphasized the urgent need for action. He pointed to disturbing instances of young people being harmed by insufficiently regulated technology, asserting that California will not allow companies to operate without appropriate boundaries and accountability. Newsom affirmed the state’s commitment to leading in artificial intelligence and tech innovation, but stressed that this progress must be balanced with responsible safeguards for children’s wellbeing.
This legislation is part of a broader national trend, with states including Utah, Texas, and Louisiana having already passed similar age verification requirements. Notably, Meta has broken ranks with many in the tech industry by supporting these measures, which primarily place responsibility on app store operators rather than individual app developers. The initial drive for such laws came largely from parent advocates, who have become influential voices in the movement for stronger online protections for young people.
AB 1043 received backing from both Meta and Google, the latter being directly impacted by the new requirements. Google’s senior director of government affairs and public policy, Kareem Ghanem, described the law as “one of the most thoughtful approaches we’ve seen thus far to the challenges of keeping kids safe,” highlighting the shared responsibility across the digital ecosystem. This endorsement was included in a press release from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the bill’s lead sponsor.
The California law differs from some other state measures in key respects. It does not mandate parental consent for app downloads, nor does it require users to submit sensitive identification documents such as government-issued IDs, a provision that sparked significant controversy during the rollout of the UK’s Online Safety Act.
Despite its support from major tech players, the bill has not garnered universal backing. Apple has not publicly endorsed the legislation, and the Motion Picture Association lobbied against it, expressing concerns that it could create confusion for streaming services where family members maintain separate profiles. Assemblymember Wicks has acknowledged these issues and committed to addressing remaining stakeholder concerns in the coming year.
(Source: The Verge)
