Tech Giants Battle Over Who Verifies Kids’ Ages Under New State Laws

A mounting legal and political clash is unfolding among tech giants over child safety legislation. Meta, Apple, and Google are lobbying across the U.S. as states adopt varied and sometimes conflicting laws requiring companies to verify user ages and secure parental consent for minors. The central debate: should individual apps like Instagram or app stores like the Apple App Store and Google Play bear the burden of compliance?

Meta argues that app stores should take the lead, comparing them to liquor stores responsible for checking IDs. In contrast, Apple and Google claim such mandates threaten user privacy and that apps are better positioned for direct age verification. New laws in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana are aligning with Meta’s stance, putting pressure on Apple and Google, which are now lobbying to counter the trend in states like South Carolina and Ohio.

The battle is further complicated by the Supreme Court’s recent openness to upholding age verification laws, intensifying the stakes. Meanwhile, competing tech coalitions and lobbying groups have fractured, with Meta aligning with newer groups like the Digital Childhood Alliance and even funding campaigns, while Apple backs industry groups running opposition ads.

With growing public concern over minors’ exposure to harmful online content, both sides are proposing technical solutions—Meta enhancing content restrictions, Apple launching new parental control tools. Still, the fragmented regulatory landscape and corporate infighting suggest more legal battles and policy shifts are on the horizon.