Parents Over Platforms Act
Summary
The "Parents Over Platforms Act" aims to establish responsible age assurance practices within the mobile ecosystem, focusing on protecting minors. It places obligations on application distributors and developers to verify user ages and provide parental controls. The Act also addresses liability and enforcement, preempting state laws in this area.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to changes in how application distributors and developers handle user data, particularly concerning minors. It could result in stricter age verification processes and increased parental oversight of children's online activities. The preemption clause centralizes regulatory authority at the federal level.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced parental control over minors' access to applications.
- Reduced exposure of minors to inappropriate content and personalized advertising.
- Clearer guidelines for application distributors and developers regarding age verification.
- Potential for increased user trust in online platforms due to improved safety measures.
- Standardized age assurance practices across the mobile ecosystem.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased data collection to verify user ages.
- Possible circumvention of age verification measures by tech-savvy minors.
- Compliance costs for application distributors and developers, potentially stifling innovation.
- Risk of erroneous age signals leading to incorrect access restrictions.
- Preemption of state laws could limit flexibility in addressing local concerns.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act's focus on protecting minors aligns with the government's general welfare responsibility, as stated in the Preamble of the US Constitution. However, the preemption clause raises questions about the balance of power between the federal government and the states, potentially implicating the Tenth Amendment. The First Amendment implications regarding freedom of speech are also relevant, as age restrictions on content could be seen as limiting access to information.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).