The App Store Accountability Act creates a new right for parents to sue app store operators if their children are exposed to harmful content through apps. The bill applies to major app stores with more than 5 million U.S. users and covers exposure to sexually explicit material, graphic violence, and certain social platforms where minors can interact with other users. App store operators can avoid lawsuits by implementing specific protections, including age verification for all users, requiring parental consent before minors download apps or make purchases, displaying age ratings clearly, and providing parents with usage monitoring tools and filters. Developers must also comply with standards around content ratings and parental controls to remain on qualifying app stores. The law takes effect one year after enactment, and the Federal Trade Commission has 30 days to certify which app stores meet the requirements and are therefore protected from these lawsuits.
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