Google's Concerns Over Age Verification Bill

Google has formally asked Utah Governor Spencer Cox to veto a bill passed by the state legislature that would make Utah the first state in the US to have a law requiring app stores to conduct age verification of their users. The bill, if enacted, would hold Apple and Google responsible for age verification and parental permission features for children under 18.

According to Google public policy director Kareem Ghanem, the Utah law poses real privacy and safety risks. Ghanem argues that states should not rush to pass laws pushed by Meta and other social media companies without considering the broader implications. Instead, Google has proposed an alternative legislative framework that would allow developers of potentially risky apps to request age signals from app store owners like Google.

This approach, Google believes, would better balance the need to protect children with the need to preserve user privacy and safety. The company also suggests that app store safety proposals should come with a ban on all personalized ads to anyone under 18, emphasizing that other companies should follow Google's lead on this issue.

Google's opposition to the law is not surprising, given the significant logistical and legal risks it would impose on the company. However, many other privacy and digital rights groups have also opposed age verification laws, citing concerns over data privacy and the potential for misuse of personal information.

The request to veto the bill comes as at least eight other states are considering similar measures, highlighting the growing debate over how to regulate app stores and protect minors in the digital age. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Governor Cox will heed Google's request and veto the bill, or if the law will proceed, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow.

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