Big win for parents and kids in Texas! Governor Abbott has signed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring age verification for app downloads for users under 18. This law empowers parents to control their children's access to apps, ensuring a safer digital environment.

Specifically, the Act requires app stores to:

• Obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing minors to download apps
• Display accurate and enforceable age ratings
• Implement secure and anonymous age verification in a centralized format

EIE has been a strong supporter of this legislation, also joining the Digital Childhood Alliance in its advocacy, and celebrates this tremendous victory!

#AgeVerification #Texas #ChildOnlineSafety  

In this episode of "Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes"-- Joel Thayer, President of the Digital Progress Institute joins Donna to discuss recent legislative efforts to protect children online, enforcement of anti-pornography laws and the role of tech companies in safeguarding minors. Key topics include the App Store Accountability Act (passed in Texas on 5/28/25 after this podcast was recorded), the ongoing challenges with Big Tech's data monopolization, and efforts to limit minors' social media usage. 

Watch a Preview of the Podcast:

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META Must Stop Harming Children with Chatbots!

Meta is currently engaged in an open experiment of AI companions on children, with minors being exposed to sexualized and developmentally inappropriate “conversations” with human-like bots. (Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2025)

EIE has joined over 80 other organizations to demand Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stop deploying AI chatbots to users under 18 and get rid of AI companion bots that simulate the likeness of a child or teen. 

'Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes' is available on our podcast page or your preferred platform. Hosted by Donna Rice Hughes, President and CEO of Enough Is Enough^®®, this podcast provides parents and guardians with up-to-date information, tips, and expert insights on topics like online predators, sex trafficking, pornography, social media, online gaming, Big Tech accountability, and child protection legislation."