Consumer protection, app store providers and developers required to take certain actions related to age verification and parental consent, Attorney General authorized to bring action for violations as deceptive trade practice, parents authorized to bring civil action
SB187 creates a new consumer-protection framework for mobile app stores and app developers focused on minors’ access to apps, in-app purchases, and account use. It requires app store providers to request and verify age information when a user in Alabama creates an account, to identify minor accounts, and to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing a minor to download, purchase, or make in-app purchases. The bill also requires renewed parental consent after significant app changes, such as changes to data practices, monetization, functionality, or age ratings.
The bill further requires app store providers to share certain age-category and consent-status information with developers in real time, while limiting the collection, use, and transmission of age-verification data and requiring encryption. Developers must use the shared age-category data only for age-based restrictions, legal compliance, or safety-related features, and they are barred from sharing age-category data with others. The Attorney General is directed to adopt rules for age-verification processes, and knowing or reckless violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under Alabama law, with civil penalties, attorney fees, costs, and possible punitive damages for repeated misconduct. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB187 would amend Alabama consumer-protection and deceptive-trade-practice enforcement by imposing new duties on app store providers and app developers operating in the state, especially regarding age verification, parental consent, data sharing, and privacy safeguards. It creates a new compliance regime for app distribution to minors, authorizes Attorney General enforcement under Chapter 19 of Title 8, and establishes civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation. The bill also limits how much user information can be disclosed, while preserving providers’ ability to block harmful content, spam, criminal activity, and security threats.
The bill appears to have generally favorable support in the Senate, where it passed third reading as amended by a 26-6 vote, with related procedural votes also showing majority support. The voting history suggests the measure advanced with a clear but not unanimous majority, indicating broad interest in child online safety and parental oversight, but also some reservations among a minority of senators. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support primarily through the vote margins rather than detailed debate.
The main points of contention are likely the scope of age verification, the amount of data app stores must share with developers, and the privacy implications of collecting and transmitting age-related information. Critics may be concerned about burdens on app stores and developers, potential overcollection of personal data, and whether the rules could be implemented in a way that is anticompetitive or intrusive. Supporters are likely focused on protecting minors, giving parents more control, and ensuring apps cannot be used by children without informed consent. The bill itself tries to address some of these concerns by limiting data use, requiring encryption, and preserving security and content-filtering measures.