US EditionTim Cook Calls Texas Governor over App Store Age Verification Bill
- Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott to request that he either veto or modify a bill mandating app stores to verify the age of every user downloading apps in the state.
- A recently approved law, supported by majorities sufficient to override a veto and currently awaiting Governor Abbott’s decision as of May 15, 2025, requires Apple and Google to gather sensitive age information, while Apple maintains that age verification should occur within individual apps rather than at the marketplace level.
- Apple and Google have increased lobbying efforts in Texas, including ads claiming the bill is "backed by porn websites," and Apple has six registered lobbyists actively opposing the legislation.
- An Apple spokesperson stated the bill would require app stores to collect and retain personal information from every user, even for non-age-sensitive apps, raising concerns about privacy risks and creating a single target for data breaches.
- If the bill is approved, Texas will lead the nation in implementing app store age verification requirements, likely encouraging other states to follow suit and prompting significant changes in how major platforms manage user data amid ongoing discussions about child privacy and safety.
28 Articles
28 Articles
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Report: Apple CEO Tim Cook Called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Desperate Attempt to Stop Online Child Safety Law
Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) as part of the tech giant’s efforts to stop the governor from passing legislation in the state that would require app stores to verify the ages of its users. Last week, Cook called Abbott to ask for changes to the online child safety legislation, or if that failed, the Apple CEO requested a veto, people familiar with the call told the Wall Street Journal. The sources added that the …
Apple CEO Urges Texas Governor To Stop Online Child Safety Law
Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly been in touch with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a desperate attempt to stop an online child safety law Cook reportedly called Abbott last week as part of the [...] The post Apple CEO Urges Texas Governor To Stop Online Child Safety Law appeared first on The People's Voice.
Apple CEO Presses Texas Governor to Stop Child Safety App Bill
Apple CEO Tim Cook has lobbied Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to fight legislation that would require the company to verify ages of device users. Cook called Abbott last week to ask the governor to push for changes to the legislation or for a veto, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the call. The people said the conversation was cordial and it made clear the extent of Apple’s interest in stopping the bill. La…
Apple CEO reportedly urged Texas' governor to ditch online child safety bill
Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to make changes to or veto a newly passed law in the state that would require the company to verify the ages of device owners, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Apple is hitting back in the war over internet age-gating
Apple CEO Tim Cook personally intervened in an attempt to stop a Texas age verification bill, The Wall Street Journal reports. SB 2420 — passed by the legislature but awaiting a signature by Gov. Greg Abbott — would require app store operators like Apple to verify the age of users accessing their stores. The company’s opposition puts it in conflict with social media giant Meta in an escalating fight over whether and how the internet should be ag…
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