AN ACT TO REQUIRE APP STORE PROVIDERS TO REQUEST AND VERIFY A USER'S AGE CATEGORY AT THE TIME THE USER CREATES AN ACCOUNT, TO REQUIRE A MINOR'S ACCOUNT TO BE AFFILIATED WITH A PARENT ACCOUNT, TO OBTAIN VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT BEFORE ALLOWING THE MINOR TO DOWNLOAD AN APP, PURCHASE AN APP, OR MAKE AN IN-APP PURCHASE, AND TO SHARE AGE CATEGORY DATA WITH DEVELOPERS; TO PROHIBIT APP STORE PROVIDERS AND DEVELOPERS FROM ENFORCING CONTRACTS AGAINST MINORS WITHOUT VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT AND FROM MISREPRESENTING PARENTAL CONSENT DISCLOSURES; TO REQUIRE DEVELOPERS TO VERIFY AGE CATEGORY DATA OF ACCOUNT HOLDERS AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT HAS BEEN OBTAINED; TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR AGE VERIFICATION METHODS; TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR PARENTS OF MINORS HARMED BY A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BRING AN ACTION AGAINST AN APP STORE PROVIDER OR A DEVELOPER WHO VIOLATES THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE A SAFE HARBOR FOR COMPLIANT DEVELOPERS; TO AMEND SECTION 75-24-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT IS AN UNFAIR METHOD OF COMPETITION OR UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE UNDER THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 45-38-3 THROUGH 45-38-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ARE THE PROVISIONS OF THE WALKER MONTGOMERY PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE ACT, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 75-24-5, 45-38-3, 45-38-5, 45-38-7, 45-38-9, 45-38-11, 45-38-13