US Censorship News

Google and Apple will soon be required to verify app store users ID/ages in Texas, after Governor Greg Abbott signed the rule into law on Tuesday.

The Texas App Store Accountability Act follows similar legislation that passed in Utah earlier this year, although it requires the app stores to collect even more user data. Enforcement of the Texas law is set to begin at the start of next year -- giving app stores several months to determine how they will collect this information. The bill was passed with super-majority approval by the Texas House and Senate.

An Apple spokesperson responded in a statement:

We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information.

Apple CEO Tim Cook called Abbott earlier this month to encourage him not to sign the bill as written.

Like Utah's law, the Texas bill requires app stores to verify all users ages and obtain parental consent before minor users download or make a purchase through an app. Theyre also required to share age categories -- child, young teenager, older teenager or adult -- with app developers so that, at least in theory, they can provider safer experiences for young users.

But Texas law adds an additional requirement: The app stores must also confirm that the parent or guardian approving a minors app downloads has the legal authority to make decisions for that child.

App store operators Google and Apple argue that the age verification bills will undermine individual privacy. That's because every user, not just children, will have to provide sensitive data -- likely an ID or a scan of their face -- to confirm their age, even if they only want to download something like a weather app, where age is irrelevant. And the custody rule will require parents to turn over even more personal documentation.

US state department officials have challenged Britain's internet censor over the impact on freedom of expression created by new online censorship laws, the Guardian understands.

A group of officials from the state department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) recently met Ofcom in London. It is understood that they raised the issue of the new online safety act and how it risked infringing free speech.

The state department body later said the meeting was part of its initiative to affirm the US commitment to defending freedom of expression, both in Europe and around the world. During the meeting, Ofcom officials claimed the new rules were only in place to deal with explicitly illegal content and material that could be harmful to children.

A state department spokesperson said: As Vice-President Vance has said, we are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom. It is important that the UK respect and protect freedom of expression.

Details of the meeting emerged after Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, denied that concerns over free speech had featured in tariff negotiations with the US.

In February, the US vice-president, JD Vance, complained of infringements on free speech in the UK. Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest allies, repeatedly claimed that some prison sentences handed down to people who incited the riots on X were a breach of free speech.

Free speech advocates say that the UK censorship law is going to bring about a culture of 'if in doubt, cut it out' as platforms seek to avoid being subject to Ofcom's enforcement powers.