Parents Over Platforms Act

The Parents Over Platforms Act requires mobile app stores and app developers to implement age assurance systems to protect minors, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'adult' (18+), 'minor' (under 18), 'age signal' (shared age category), 'application distribution provider' (app store operator), 'covered application' (apps with different experiences for adults vs. minors), and 'personalized advertising' (targeted ads based on cross-site data). Title I, Sec. 101, Age assurance: App stores must ask users their age when creating an account, may use reasonable methods to estimate age, provide a mechanism for users to correct their age, and give developers technical access to age signals if the user or parent agrees. Title I, Sec. 102, Application distributor and developer obligations: App stores must let parents block minors from downloading covered apps, provide a centralized page for parental controls, and not use compliance data anticompetitively. Developers must report if their app has different experiences for adults/minors, provide privacy info for minors, use reasonable efforts to determine user age, block minors from adult-only activities, get parental consent for age-gated content, not deliver personalized ads to minors, and limit use of age signals to compliance purposes. Title II, Sec. 201, Limitations on liability: App stores acting in good faith are not liable for erroneous age signals, developer conduct, technical failures, or not providing signals to non-compliant developers. Developers are solely responsible for identifying covered apps and not liable for erroneous age signals if they use them reasonably. Title II, Sec. 202, Enforcement: Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act, with the FTC enforcing it using its standard powers and penalties. Title II, Sec. 203, Preemption: States cannot enforce any laws related to this Act's provisions. Title II, Sec. 204, Severability: If any part is invalid, the rest remains in effect. Title II, Sec. 205, Effective date: The Act takes effect 2 years after enactment.