Meta and Google are locked in a heated debate over new legislation aimed at protecting kids online, with Google accusing Meta of trying to "offload" its own responsibility to keep children safe. The controversy centers around a new bill in Utah, the App Store Accountability Act, which would require app stores to give parents control over kids' app downloads.

The Utah bill, which has been praised by Meta, Snap, and X, would put the onus on app store operators to keep kids from accessing inappropriate content. However, Google has expressed concerns about the legislation, arguing that it would require app stores to share user age information with app developers without parental consent, raising privacy and safety risks.

According to Google director of public policy Kareem Ghanem, the legislation would allow social media companies like Meta to "avoid responsibility" for keeping kids safe on their platforms, despite being one of the primary ways kids access online content. Ghanem argues that app developers, not app stores, should be responsible for determining when and where age-gates are necessary to protect users.

Meta has countered that the simplest way to protect teens online is to put parents in charge, and that legislation should require app stores to obtain parental consent before allowing children to download apps. Meta global head of safety Antigone Davis has argued that verifying a teen's age on the app store would protect users' privacy, as individual apps would not be required to collect potentially sensitive identifying information.

However, privacy advocates have raised concerns about how users' ages would be verified, with Utah's legislation leaving it to app store operators to determine the method. Apple has also expressed concerns about excessive data collection, proposing a more targeted approach that would only provide age assurance to developers who need it.

The debate highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing kids' online safety with privacy concerns. As more states consider similar legislation, the tech industry will be watching closely to see how the issue is resolved. As Google's Ghanem notes, "everyone wants to protect kids and teens online, and make sure they engage with age-appropriate content, but how it's done matters."

The issue is particularly pressing given the history of tech companies being accused of not doing enough to keep kids safe on their platforms. Both Meta and Google's YouTube have faced criticism in the past for allegedly not doing enough to prevent the exploitation of children or promote healthy online experiences.

As the tech industry continues to grapple with the complexities of kids' online safety, one thing is clear: finding a solution that balances privacy, safety, and parental control will require careful consideration and cooperation from all stakeholders.