Texas Adopts Online Child-Safety Bill Opposed by Apple’s CEO

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an online child safety bill, bucking a lobbying push from big tech companies that included a personal phone call from from Apple CEO Tim Cook. The measure requires app stores to verify users’ ages and secure parental approval before minors can download most apps or make in-app purchases. The bill drew fire from app store operators such as Google and Apple, which has argued that the legislation threatens the privacy of all users.

The bill was a big enough priority for Apple that Cook called Abbott to emphasize the company’s opposition to it, said a person familiar with their discussion, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.