Apple and Google Lobby to Limit Liability in Online Safety Bills

Apple and Google have been actively lobbying state lawmakers to modify draft online safety bills, aiming to limit their liability. A report from Politico reveals that the tech giants are pushing for changes to the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA) that would remove the possibility of private lawsuits and assign enforcement solely to state attorneys general. The proposed Mobile Ecosystem Responsibility Act (MERA) includes language that specifies enforcement authority lies exclusively with the Attorney General and explicitly prohibits private lawsuits.

The efforts by Apple and Google come as they seek to avoid legal consequences related to age-verification requirements. Meanwhile, Meta and other social media companies have been supporting the ASAA, as it shifts liability for age verification to app stores rather than the platforms themselves. This divide highlights the tension between social media giants and device manufacturers in the realm of age assurance regulations.

Currently, five states have enacted versions of the ASAA or similar legislation, with Alabama and California set to implement their versions on January 1, 2027. However, the patchwork of state laws and the legal battles surrounding them create a complex regulatory landscape. The ongoing lobbying and litigation efforts by Big Tech further complicate the path to a consistent age assurance regime in the U.S.