Assembly Bill 962 establishes new regulations for app store providers and app developers in Wisconsin, focusing on age verification and parental consent requirements. The bill mandates that app store providers must request and verify the age category of individuals creating accounts, categorizing users into four groups: children (under 13), younger teenagers (13-15), older teenagers (16-17), and adults (18 and older). For minors, the app store provider must link their account to a parent account and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing any purchases or downloads. The bill also requires app store providers to notify users of significant changes to apps and to protect age category data through encryption and limited data collection.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of app developers, including verifying age category data and obtaining parental consent when necessary. It establishes penalties for violations, allowing the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or the Department of Justice to seek civil action against non-compliant app store providers or developers, with potential fines up to $7,500 per violation. The bill also allows minors or their parents to pursue civil action for damages resulting from violations, reinforcing the importance of protecting minors in the digital space.