NewsHail
28 May 2025
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a new law to protect kids online. The law says Apple and Google must check the age of users in Texas before they can download apps.
Kids will need a parent’s OK to get apps or make purchases in them. Apple and Google are against the law.
Apple said it wants to keep kids safe but doesn’t agree with this plan. A spokesperson said the law would force millions of people to give up personal information, even for simple apps like weather or sports.
Google hasn’t said anything yet.
Texas is not the first state to do this. Utah passed a similar law earlier this year.
In Washington, U.S. lawmakers have also been working on a bill called the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA. It passed the Senate last year but got stuck in the House of Representatives. The bill was brought back this month. Apple supports this plan.
Since there is no national law yet, states like Texas are making their own rules.
These laws often cause fights between app stores like Apple and Google and social media companies.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, wants Apple and Google to be in charge of checking users' ages.
The Wall Street Journal said Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, called Governor Abbott to try to stop the Texas law. But the law still passed.
Apple says it wants to protect kids but worries this law could harm everyone’s privacy. It said the law would force app stores to collect private data from every person in Texas, even for harmless apps.
In February, Apple added new safety rules for kids. Now, users must pick an age range when setting up a new device. Kids under 13 need a parent’s OK to use the App Store and other features.
The new Texas law will start on January 1.
Texas has passed tech rules before. In 2021, the state made it illegal for social media to block people for their political views.
