Big Tech

Apple’s Cook Presses Congress Over Child Online Safety Bill

Tim Cook, second left, at the US Capitol on Dec. 10. 

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook met with US lawmakers on Wednesday to lobby against pending children’s online safety legislation that would require app store operators to authenticate users’ ages, pressing instead for an alternate version that puts the burden of protecting kids on parents.

Apple has raised concerns about the App Store Accountability Act, which would require app stores to verify the ages of users in order to determine whether minors are using potentially harmful apps. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday morning.