Utah's New App Store Law: How Apple is Preparing for Age Verification

Utah's New Law Forces Tech Companies to Add Age Verification Utah's new App Store Accountability Act will require companies like Apple and Google to implement age verification measures for new App Store users in the state. The goal is to protect children from accessing age-inappropriate content.

Key Points:

• Law Signed: Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed the law on March 26, 2025.
• Purpose: To ensure that only adults can create accounts and that minors are protected from inappropriate content.
• Implementation: Apple is already prepared with age assurance features detailed in a February 2025 whitepaper.
• Verification Method: Apple will use existing credit card information, payment history, and biometric verification (Face ID or Touch ID) to confirm the identity of adults setting up accounts for children.
• Additional Measures: For minor accounts, Apple will limit access to age-inappropriate websites, ensuring compliance with a similar law passed in 2021.

Industry Response:

Meta, Snap, and X have applauded Utah's new law, highlighting its benefits in centralizing parental control within the device's app store. The law is set to take effect on May 7, 2025.