Reps. Auchincloss, Houchin introduce Bipartisan Parents Over Platforms Act to equip parents with age assurance tools that app stores and developers must respect
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) and Erin Houchin (R, IN-9) introduced the Parents Over Platforms Act to force app stores & developers to protect minors downloading apps on their phones. This legislation puts parents in the driver’s seat for their children’s online experience by creating an age-assurance framework that ensures their children can only download age-appropriate apps through app stores.
The Parents Over Platforms Act would:
- Require app stores to provide users’ age ranges so that app developers can create age-appropriate experiences for children online.
- Compel app stores to provide parents with a central toolkit to manage their child's online activities.
- Impose penalties on developers who misuse users’ age information.
- Prohibit the use of children’s data for targeted advertising.
“The most powerful architects of the content youth see online are Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and the Chinese Communist Party. They treat our children like products. Parents need strong, simple tools to take back control in this overly online age,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
“Kids can bypass age limits online far too easily, and parents are left with no real way to step in — I lived that when my own daughter was 13," said Congresswoman Erin Houchin. "The Parents Over Platforms Act finally closes that loophole by making app stores and developers share responsibility for age assurance, giving parents one place to manage controls, and ensuring apps provide safer, age-appropriate experiences. This bill puts parents back in charge and keeps kids safer online.”
“PPI is grateful to Congressman Auchincloss for leading this smart, modern legislation to protect children’s safety online,” said Stu Malec, Vice President of Public Affairs at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). “The regulatory solutions in this bill are practical and grounded in how the technology actually works. By fairly sharing responsibilities between app stores and app developers, this legislation will strengthen protections for children while still preserving the innovative ecosystem that powers today’s mobile economy.”