New bill mandates age verification for all device users.
Critics warn it creates a digital national ID system.
The law would make Apple and Google age brokers for apps.
Data protection rules are vague and deferred to the FTC.
The measure could end online anonymity for all Americans.
A new congressional bill, packaged as a child safety initiative, would require every American setting up a phone, computer, or tablet to verify their age with Apple or Google, creating what critics warn is a backdoor national identification system for the digital age. The Parents Decide Act (H.R. 8250), introduced by Representative Josh Gottheimer and Elise Stefanik on April 13, mandates that operating system providers collect and confirm the birth date of any user during device setup, with no opt-out for adults. While proponents argue this gives parents control, the legislation’s fine print builds a universal age-verification layer that could reshape online anonymity and consolidate surveillance power with two tech giants.
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