Sen. Andy Kim floats tech-backed alternative to app store age checks

Summary

Sen. Andy Kim is circulating a draft kids’ online safety bill that would require operating system providers such as Apple and Google to collect users’ ages for use by app developers, three people familiar with the proposal told POLITICO. The new bill, named the Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026, mirrors an eponymous California law that received widespread support from tech companies including Google, Meta and Snap, according to a POLITICO review of the legislative text. Kim (D-N.J.) has been searching for a Senate co-sponsor and collecting feedback from online safety groups and has received support from industry groups, according to two of the people. All three people were granted anonymity to disclose details of private discussions. Kim has championed technology policy legislation in Congress, including a bipartisan June proposal that seeks to rein in quantum technology exports to China. He sits on the Senate's Commerce and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. Unlike other bills under consideration on the Hill, the Digital Age Assurance Act would require users to input their ages, but not mandate that app stores or other platforms independently verify users’ ages or obtain parental consent before minors download apps or make purchases. The senator's proposal comes as child online safety legislation returns to the spotlight on Capitol Hill, with another age verification proposal, the App Store Accountability Act, under discussion for inclusion in a package of online child safety bills being negotiated by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and the White House.