SACRAMENTO, California — A California bill to check kids’ ages online is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, after it secured rare support from major tech giants, including Google, Meta and Snap.
The proposal, which would require device makers and app stores to verify user ages, cleared the state Assembly 58-0 in the early hours of Saturday with backing from Republicans and Democrats.
Google and Meta, plus other tech firms like OpenAI and Pinterest, rallied around the online age verification plan this week despite recently sparring over similar measures in Utah and Texas. They argue the measure from Democratic state Assemblymember Buffy Wicks offers a more reasonable solution and hope it becomes a de facto national standard for other states weighing mandatory age-checks amid bipartisan concerns about kids’ safety online.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure for how to create more thoughtful safeguards for kids online,” Wicks told POLITICO.
Google, Meta and the like argue Wicks’ AB 1043 is a more balanced and privacy-protective approach because it allows kids to download apps without parental consent, unlike the laws passed in Utah and Texas.
It also doesn’t mandate photo ID uploads — a controversial feature that sparked outrage from privacy advocates when the United Kingdom implemented age-gating rules earlier this summer. Instead, Wicks’ bill asks parents to input their kids’ ages when setting up a smartphone, tablet or laptop; groups users into one of four age brackets; and sends their age info to apps like Facebook and Instagram.
But Wicks’ measure doesn’t have unanimous backing. Apple, which operates iOS, has remained silent. The bill also faces last-minute opposition from a powerful California film industry group, foreshadowing a tense debate between Hollywood and Silicon Valley that may force Newsom to choose between the two iconic California industries.
The Motion Picture Association, which represents major film studios including Amazon and Netflix, argues it would override their existing kids’ safety measures. MPA urged state lawmakers to reject Wicks’ bill this week in a letter, obtained by POLITICO, claiming device-based age checks may sow confusion; for example, if parents and kids had separate Netflix profiles under one account that’s logged in on multiple devices.
Wicks’ measure doesn’t prevent parents from creating kid-friendly streaming profiles. She told POLITICO early Saturday that “there might be some cleanups due on the bill,” and that she may work with the MPA and Netflix next year to explore amendments addressing their lingering concerns.
Newsom must sign or veto all bills by Oct. 13.
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