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Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee hears debate over App Store Accountability Act (SB 372)
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard hours of testimony for and against SB 372, which would require app stores to verify age categories, link minor accounts to a parent account and obtain verifiable parental consent; proponents called it a contract-law fix to protect children, while tech groups and trade associations warned of constitutional and privacy risks and burdens on small developers.
The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 372, the App Store Accountability Act, which would require app stores to request and verify users’ age categories, link accounts identified as belonging to minors to verified parent accounts, and require verifiable parental consent before enforcing contract terms against minors.
Proponents argued the bill protects children and restores parental control. John Reed of the Digital Childhood Alliance told the committee SB 372 “applies that same concept to the digital space,” saying minors should not be bound to complex digital contracts without a responsible adult’s consent. Heidi Olsen, a pediatric forensic nurse examiner, described multiple cases she said involved grooming and exploitation that began on apps, and said current age ratings and parental controls mislead caregivers. Chris McKenna, founder and CEO…
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