Tim Cook Advocates Against Texas Online Child Safety Bill

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott regarding an online child safety bill that’s currently being discussed in the state.

Last week, Cook urged Abbott to consider changes to the proposed legislation. As reported by a source familiar with the matter, the conversation was detailed in a Wall Street Journal article.

This legislation mandates that companies like Apple and Google must verify the ages of their users and secure parental consent before allowing minors to download apps.

Major tech firms, including Apple, have expressed concerns that the bill is overly invasive. They argue that it necessitates data collection processes that could compromise user privacy.

While the Texas legislature has already approved the bill with a veto-proof majority, it remains uncertain whether Abbott will sign it into law.

“Ensuring the safety and online privacy of Texas children is important to Governor Abbott,” stated Andrew Mahalleris, a spokesperson for the governor. He noted that the governor will thoughtfully consider this legislation, much like he does with others presented to him.

In response to inquiries, an Apple representative chose not to elaborate on the report. However, they did highlight grave concerns over the implications of SB2420 on user privacy.

The spokesperson indicated that, should the bill pass, sensitive personal identification information from all Texans wanting to download apps could be stored, even for something simple like a weather app. “We think there are more effective ways to ensure children’s safety without compromising the privacy of millions,” they remarked.

Cook’s outreach is part of a broader trend within the tech industry to push back against the legislation. According to the Journal, both Apple and Google have supported interest groups that campaigned against similar regulatory efforts in Austin.

Joel Sayer, a Republican attorney who helped draft the bill, criticized Apple’s efforts to derail it, noting the strong backing it has among lawmakers. “This seems like another last-ditch attempt to overturn democratic decisions supporting child protection,” he said, referring to Apple’s influence.

If the bill becomes law, Texas will join Utah as the second state to implement accountability measures for app stores, with at least nine more states considering similar initiatives.