In a continued effort to protect children online, Republican lawmakers introduced the App Store Accountability Act this week—a federal Republican bill focused on app store age verification and parental oversight in digital purchases.

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and U.S. Representative John James (R-Mich.) unveiled the legislation on May 1, aiming to hold Big Tech accountable by mandating that app stores verify users' ages through privacy-respecting methods and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to download apps or make in-app purchases.

“This is about putting parents back in control,” said Senator Lee. “Our Republican bill ensures app store age verification is not optional, and protects minors from the dangers of adult content, predatory interactions, and manipulative digital tools.”

The proposed federal legislation mirrors Utah’s recently enacted S.B. 142, signed by Governor Spencer Cox, and would require:

• Commercially reliable age verification at the account sign-up stage,

• Connection of minor accounts to verified parent accounts for permissions,

• A strict prohibition on the sale of any age-related data collected,

• Clear mechanisms for parents to file complaints through the Federal Trade Commission.

In an op-ed published in The Hill, Senator Lee emphasized the urgency:

“Stories like that of a 14-year-old boy in Florida—lured into suicide by a chatbot app—are tragic and preventable. Our bill ensures apps like Character.AI face real scrutiny instead of hiding behind vague or inconsistent ratings.”

Lee cited discrepancies in app classification, noting that Apple labeled Character.AI as 17+, while Google’s Play Store rated it appropriate for teens—pointing to the need for uniform standards.

“Big Tech should not be the gatekeeper of our children's safety,” added Representative James. “Kids cannot legally consent, and companies that expose them to addictive or adult content should face the same accountability standards we expect of local businesses.”

Violations of the legislation would be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act, empowering the FTC to take enforcement action.

This Republican bill on app store age verification comes as part of a broader push across states like Florida and Texas to introduce digital safeguards for minors, despite ongoing debates around First Amendment rights. As courts weigh the balance between free speech and online safety, lawmakers remain committed to pursuing protections tailored to today’s digital landscape.