Apple CEO Urges Texas Governor To Cancel Child Online Safety Bill

JAKARTA Apple CEO Tim Cook rejected the online safety bill (RUU) for children to be passed in Texas. In fact, Cook reportedly urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott directly.

On behalf of his company, Cook asked Abbott to change or veto a bill that forces companies to verify the age of application users. The application of this bill is believed to threaten the privacy of the people in the country.

The reason is, this rule forces companies to verify age in the application, even in their app stores. For example, before a user uses the App Store, the user must verify the identity. If the user is still a minor, their account must be linked to the parent's. Next, the control will be given to the parent.

"If enforced, the app market will be required to collect and store sensitive personal identification information for every citizen who wants to download the app, even if it is an application providing weather information or sporting scores," an Apple spokesperson said, quoted via the Wall Street Journal on Monday, May 26.

It's not just Apple that rejects the bill. Reportedly, the iPhone developer is working with other technology companies to fight the ratification of the child's online safety bill. Another big company that joins is Google.

Texas is not the only country that makes similar rules and responses from technology companies often counters. The reason is always the same, namely the privacy issue because all applications store the personal identity of their users.

As long as the bill has not been signed by Abbott, Apple and other companies will continue to demand changes to the rules. Last year, Apple succeeded in discontinuing the ratification of the Age Verification Bill in Louisiana last year.

Although many technology companies refuse, some provide support. Those who are pro to the age verification policy state that this rule can limit children's access and provide greater control for parents.