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Panel backs bill to require app stores to provide age signals to protect children online
Summary
Senate Bill 503 would require app stores to provide an age‑category signal to developers so apps can offer age‑appropriate experiences without storing sensitive identity documents; the committee reported the bill favorably after debate on verification standards.
Senator Kathy told the Senate Commerce Committee on April 22 that Senate Bill 503 is intended to create a safer online experience for children by requiring app stores to provide an "age signal" to developers and prohibiting the use of children’s data for targeted advertising.
Senator Kathy said the bill strikes a balance: it offers tools for age‑appropriate experiences and encourages privacy‑preserving approaches while avoiding intrusive age‑verification methods that require uploading government IDs. Morgan Stevens of the Association for Competitive Technology said the bill targets only apps most likely to pose risks to minors and avoids one‑size‑fits‑all obligations that would burden small developers.
Opponents, including Dr. Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy, criticized parts of the bill as relying on an "honor code" rather than robust age verification and urged further work to ensure children cannot access inappropriate material. Senator Kathy said she would work with critics between committee and floor to refine mechanisms that can protect children while remaining practical to implement.
Senator Kathy moved to report SB 503 favorably; the committee reported the bill favorably without objection.
