Congress wants to protect kids online. Its solution makes them more vulnerable

Published March 27, 2026 11:00am ET



Congress, once again, is at risk of letting good intentions lead to policy that is both ineffective and almost certain to bring unintended consequences. Recently, the App Store Accountability Act took another step forward, making it out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Among other things, the ASAA would require app stores, such as the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, to verify user ages and mandate parental consent for users under 18.

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