Apple CEO Tim Cook Urges Texas Governor to Rethink Child Safety Legislation
In a recent development, Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott to discuss potential changes to a newly passed law in the state. The legislation in question would require companies like Apple to verify the ages of device owners, a move that has raised concerns about user privacy.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Abbott has not yet signed the bill into law. However, both Apple and Google have been actively engaged in discussions with interest groups to oppose the legislation. Apple has specifically highlighted the potential privacy implications of the Texas bill.
The proposed law would require that if a minor uses a device, their App Store account must be linked to their parents’ account. This would enable parents to receive notifications about their children’s app downloads and have the ability to approve or deny them.
Apple has expressed concerns about the collection and storage of sensitive personal information of every Texan who wishes to download an app. The company argues that even seemingly innocuous apps, such as those providing weather updates or sports scores, would require users to disclose personal identifying information.
Supporters of the bill contend that it empowers parents to have greater oversight of their children’s smartphone usage. Similar legislation is being considered in at least nine other states, with Louisiana revisiting a similar bill that Apple successfully opposed last year.
