Bill > SB372

This bill, known as the App Store Accountability Act, establishes new regulations for app stores and app developers concerning minors, aiming to enhance online safety and privacy. It mandates that app store providers implement age verification methods to determine an account holder's age category, and if an account belongs to a minor (defined as someone under 18, unless married or emancipated), the app store must ensure it's linked to a "parent account" and obtain "verifiable parental consent" before allowing the minor to download, purchase, or make in-app purchases within an app. "Verifiable parental consent" means explicit authorization from a parent or legal guardian after they've been provided with clear information about the app's age rating, content, and data collection practices. Developers are also required to request age category data from app stores and use it to enforce age-related restrictions, and they cannot enforce contracts or terms of service against a minor without verified parental consent. Violations of these provisions will be treated as violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, allowing the Attorney General to bring civil actions, and also create a private right of action for individuals harmed by these violations. The act also includes provisions for developers to be shielded from liability if they reasonably rely on age information provided by app store providers and outlines specific protections for data collected during the age verification process.