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From Apple and Google Lobbying Efforts Target Online Safety Law Liability in Three States

How will lobbying efforts affect the general assembly in Arizona, Georgia, and Kansas?

General Assembly faces pressure to weaken liability in tech safety bills Apple and Google are conducting a massive lobbying effort in Arizona, Georgia, and Kansas to influence draft online safety legislation. They are urging lawmakers to redraft the App Store Accountability Act to remove the possibility of private lawsuits. Instead, the companies seek to assign enforcement authority entirely to state attorneys general.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Oct 6
Effect
Mixed
How direct
2 steps, all reported
When
Right away
The story
Gone quiet

How it reaches general assembly

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The facts so far

As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.

  • Apple and Google are lobbying to shield the tech giants from lawsuits tied to age-verification requirements.biometricupdate.com
  • The companies are pushing for alternative text that would remove the possibility of private lawsuits.biometricupdate.com
  • They aim to assign enforcement entirely to state attorneys general under the suggested Mobile Ecosystem Responsibility Act (MERA).biometricupdate.com
  • The lobbying effort followed versions of the App Store Accountability Act across Georgia, Arizona and Kansas.biometricupdate.com

Why it matters

For the general assembly, this lobbying effort represents a direct attempt by powerful tech companies to shape the legislative outcome in their favor. By successfully pushing for changes, Apple and Google could significantly limit their legal exposure regarding age-verification requirements, which is a major financial and operational risk for them.

This effort is part of a broader regulatory standoff in Silicon Valley. While social media companies like Meta have supported shifting liability to app stores, device titans like Apple and Google are simultaneously pushing for legislative changes to protect themselves from legal consequences, creating a complex and rocky legislative landscape across the states.

What we don't know yet

  • Will the general assembly adopt the redrafted versions of the App Store Accountability Act?
  • How will the shift of enforcement authority to state attorneys general practically change the implementation of these laws?

What would change this answer

The general assembly passes the redrafted App Store Accountability Act language, assigning enforcement to state attorneys general.The effect on the tech companies will be immediate and strong, as they achieve their goal of limiting private liability.
State attorneys general refuse to enforce the new liability-limited provisions of the law.The effect on the tech companies may fade, as the intended legal shield would not be practically utilized.

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  • About Google Play

    Since the lobbying efforts target the App Store Accountability Act, are similar liability protections being sought for the Google Play store?

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