Summary

Requires major app store operators to collect and verify users' ages, link minor accounts to parental accounts, and obtain verifiable parental consent before minors download, purchase, or make in‑app purchases. Sets duties for app developers about when and how they may rely on age signals, limits use and retention of age data, requires security safeguards and clear age ratings, gives the Federal Trade Commission enforcement power, allows state attorneys general to sue, and preempts conflicting state laws. The Act includes a safe harbor for developers who rely in good faith on verified age signals and follow required standards, plus standard severability and a one‑year default effective date.

Key Points

• App stores must verify user age at account creation and link minor accounts to parental accounts with verifiable parental consent before purchases or downloads.
• Developers may rely on an app store's age signal; that signal constitutes actual knowledge of a user's age under the Act.
• The Act limits collection, retention, and use of age verification data and requires reasonable security safeguards and plain‑language age ratings.
• The Federal Trade Commission enforces the law; state attorneys general may also sue on behalf of residents with notice to the Commission.
• A safe harbor protects developers who in good faith rely on store age signals, comply with store rules, and follow accepted standards for age ratings and content descriptions.
• The Commission must publish guidance and run certification and complaint/review processes on defined timelines.
• The Act preempts state laws that relate to its provisions but preserves contract and tort claims and allows state enforcement actions under the Act.
• Standard severability keeps the rest of the law effective if any part is invalidated, and the default effective date is one year after enactment.

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