,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ajcfd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(         
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #aa1         
#bjbd,mr4 ,james introduc$ ! foll[+     
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,en]gy & ,comm]ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to       
safegu>d *ildr5 f h>mful app s]vices    
accessible ?r\gh app /ores across !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 to provide p>5ts ) p>5tal
 controls1 to provide p>5ts cle> &      
accurate in=mation ab\t apps & _!       
s]vices to ensure prop] p>5tal cons5t is
 a*iev$1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title2 table ( cont5ts  7a7 ,%ort title 
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,app ,/ore    
,acc\ntability ,act4  7b7 ,table (      
cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts = ?is ,act is
 z foll[s3 ,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table 
( cont5ts4,sec4 #b4 ,f9d+s2 s5se (      
,congress4,sec4 #c4 ,def9itions4,sec4   
#d4 ,app /ore obligations4,sec4 #e4     
,develop] obligations4,sec4 #f4 ,app age
 rat+s transp>5cy advisory              
committee4,sec4 #g4 ,compliance4,sec4   
#h4 ,en=cem5t4,sec4 #i4                 

,preemption4,sec4 #aj4                  
,sev]ability4,sec4 #aa4 ,effective date4
  #b4 ,f9d+s2 s5se ( ,congress  7a7     
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7    
,m9ors d n h ! same capacity to cons5t  
to a contract z adults4  7#b7 ,_m apps  
all[ 9-app pur*ases )\t confirm+ t an   
adult has cons5t$ to su* a pur*ase4     
7#c7 ,_m apps conta9 cont5t or features 
inappropriate = m9ors1 su* z obsc5e or  
explicitly sexual cont5t1 addictive     
features1 & adult !mes4  7#d7 #ie p]c5t 
( te5ag]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates own a sm>t  
phone & h access to apps ?r\gh an app   
/ore4  7#e7 ,! lead+ app /ores provide  
"s ability = p>5ts to ov]see a m9or's   
use ( apps1 b ^? abilities are          
incomplete to appropriately protect     
m9ors4  7#f7 ,! lead+ app /ores provide 
"s age rat+ = apps1 b ^? rat+s c be     
inaccurate1 vague1 deceptive1 or o!rwise
 unhelpful to p>5ts4  7#g7 ,"s develop]s
 claim to limit or prohibit ! use ( _!  
app by m9ors b too (t5 fail to en=ce ^? 
policies4  7#h7 ,sev]al onl9e s]vices   

provide ! capability to v]ify ! age ( a 
us]4  7#i7 ,app /ores h ! ability to1 b 
too (t5 d n1 v]ify ! age ( a us]4  7#aj7
 ,requir+ age v]ification by ! l>ge/ app
 /ore provid]s may emp[] p>5tal ov]sight
 ( m9ors' use ( apps :ile m9imiz+ !     
burd5 on develop]s1 entrepr5eurs1 p>5ts1
 & o!r adult us]s ( apps4  7#aa7 ,two   
app /ores1 ! ,apple ,app ,/ore & !      
,google ,play ,/ore1 almo/ entirely     
control ! app di/ribution m>ket 9 !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 & ^! #b /ores provide    
me?ods = p>5ts to ov]see a m9or's use ( 
apps1 b ^? me?ods are incomplete to     
appropriately protect m9ors4  7b7 ,s5se 
( congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 
7#a7 requir+ age v]ification by ! l>ge/ 
app /ore provid]s may emp[] p>5tal      
ov]sight ( m9ors' use ( apps :ile       
m9imiz+ ! burd5 on develop]s1           
entrepr5eurs1 p>5ts1 & o!r adult us]s ( 
apps2  7#b7 mobile device usage dep5ds  
on access to c]ta9 apps2  7#c7 mobile   
devices h evolv$ to comm& a uniquely    
p]vasive pres5ce z a m$ium ( expression1

 are impossible to completely avoid1 &  
are f\ndational to bo? public & private 
life2 &  7#d7 disclosure ( (f5sive      
cont5t )9 apps-- 7,a7 emp[]s p>5ts to   
bett] und]/& :at apps _! *ildr5 are us+ 
& ex]cise _! p>5tal ov]sight2 &  7,b7   
ensures t m9ors are bett] able to avoid 
cont5t !y are in/ruct$ aga9/ access+ or 
w\ld o!rwise desire to p]sonally avoid4 
#c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,age  
category ,! t]m age category means !    
category ( an individual bas$ on _! age1
 includ+ ! foll[+ categories3 7,a7      
,adult ,an adult is su* an individual :o
 has atta9$ #ah ye>s ( age4  7,b7       
,te5ag] ,a te5ag] is su* an individual  
:o has atta9$ #af ye>s ( age b has n    
atta9$ #ah ye>s ( age4  7,c7 ,*ild ,a   
*ild is su* an individual :o has atta9$ 
#ac ye>s ( age b has n atta9$ #af ye>s (
 age4  7,d7 ,"y *ild ,a "y *ild is su*  
an individual :o has n atta9$ #ac ye>s (
 age4  7#b7 ,age rat+ ,! t]m age rat+   
means a public display t indicates !    
appropriat5ess ( an app = diff]5t age   

categories4  7#c7 ,app ,! t]m app means 
a s(tw>e application or electronic      
s]vice t may be run or direct$ by a us] 
on a comput]1 mobile device1 or any o!r 
g5]al purpose comput+ device4  7#d7 ,app
 /ore ,! t]m app /ore means a publicly  
available website1 s(tw>e application1  
or o!r electronic s]vice t di/ributes & 
facilitates ! d[nload ( an app f a      
?ird-p>ty develop] by a us] ( a comput]1
 mobile device1 or any o!r g5]al purpose
 comput+ device4  7#e7 ,commission ,!   
t]m ,commission means ! ,f$]al ,trade   
,commission4  7#f7 ,cov]$ app /ore      
provid] ,! t]m cov]$ app /ore provid]   
means any p]son t owns or controls an   
app /ore available 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & =
 :i* us]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates exce$       
#e1jjj1jjj4  7#g7 ,develop] ,! t]m      
develop] means any p]son t owns or      
controls an app on ! app /ore ( a cov]$ 
app /ore provid] & available 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates4  7#h7 ,"k ,! t]m "k means to h  
actual k or k fairly inf]r$ bas$ on     
objective circum/ances4  7#i7 ,m9or ,!  

t]m m9or means an individual :o has n   
atta9$ #ah ye>s ( age4  7#aj7 ,mobile   
device ,! t]m mobile device means a     
tablet or sm>t phone t is capable (     
runn+ a mobile op]at+ sy/em4  7#aa7     
,mobile op]at+ sy/em ,! t]m mobile      
op]at+ sy/em means a set ( s(tw>e t     
manages mobile device h>dw>e res\rces & 
provides common s]vices = mobile device 
programs4  7#ab7 ,p>5t ,! t]m p>5t1 )   
respect to a m9or1 means an adult ) !   
legal "r to make decisions on behalf ( !
 m9or1 includ+-- 7,a7 a natural p>5t2   
7,b7 an adoptive p>5t2  7,c7 a legal    
gu>dian2 or  7,d7 an individual ) legal 
cu/ody ov] ! m9or4  7#ac7 ,signal ,! t]m
 signal means age bracket$ data s5t by a
 real-"t secure application programm+   
int]face or op]at+ sy/em t is likely to 
be access$ by m9ors4  7#ad7 ,v]ifiable  
p>5tal cons5t ,! t]m v]ifiable p>5tal   
cons5t means au?orization t is provid$--
 7,a7 by a p>5t :o a cov]$ app /ore     
provid] has v]ifi$ is an adult2  7,b7 9 
response to a disclosure f a cov]$ app  

/ore provid] t id5tifies :at is         
specifically be+ cons5t$ to1 includ+ !  
age rat+ = ! app or 9-app pur*ase at    
issue2 &  7,c7 9 response to a cle>     
*oice to cons5t or to decl9e to cons5t  
to ! reque/ f ! cov]$ app /ore provid]4 
#d4 ,app /ore obligations  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,ea* cov]$ app /ore provid] %all d !    
foll[+3 7#a7 ,age v]ification ,det]m9e !
 age category = ea* individual 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates t uses ! app /ore ( su*   
provid] & v]ify su* individual's age us+
 comm]cially reasonable me?ods4  7#b7   
,p>5tal ov]sight ( app /ore usage ,obta9
 v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t prior to all[+ 
a m9or to use ! app /ore ( su* provid]1 
includ+ by provid+ a me*anism = a p>5t  
to block a m9or f d[nload+ any app t is 
n suitable = ! age category ( ! m9or4   
7#c7 ,p>5tal ov]sight ( app d[nloads    
,obta9 v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t1 on a    
d[nload-by-d[nload basis1 prior to all[+
 a m9or to d[nload an app f ! app /ore (
 su* provid]1 includ+ by provid+ an     
easily accessible me*anism = a p>5t to  

cons5t to ! d[nload ( an app4  7#d7     
,p>5tal ov]sight ( app pur*ases ,obta9  
v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t1 on a           
pur*ase-by-pur*ase basis1 prior to all[+
 a m9or to pur*ase any app ?r\gh ! app  
/ore ( su* provid]1 & su* cons5t %all be
 valid = up to #g days4  7#e7 ,p>5tal   
ov]sight ( 9-app pur*ases ,obta9        
v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t1 on a           
pur*ase-by-pur*ase basis1 prior to all[+
 a m9or to make an 9-app pur*ase ?r\gh !
 app /ore ( su* provid]4  7#f7 ,p>5tal  
ov]sight ( app usage ,) respect to any  
cov]$ app /ore provid] t owns or        
controls a mobile device's mobile op]at+
 sy/em1 to ! ext5t practicable1 provide 
to p>5ts a cle> & easy me*anism to set--
 7,a7 filt]s t prev5t a m9or f access+  
any adult website on ! web br[s] ( !    
mobile device2 &  7,b7 usage limits1    
includ+ daily limits & limitations dur+ 
s*ool & ev5+ h\rs4  7#g7 ,app age rat+  
display ,to ! ext5t ! cov]$ app /ore    
provid] displays age rat+s or           
descriptions ( cont5t1 cle>ly &         

prom95tly display ! age rat+ or         
description ( cont5t = ea* app available
 9 ! app /ore ( ! provid]1 includ+      
in=mation reg>d+ ! m9imum age category  
suitable = usage ( an app4  7#h7 ,age   
category signal to develop]s ,provide to
 develop]s ! ability to det]m9e1 9 real 
"t1 ! age category ( any us] &1 )       
respect to any us] t is a m9or1 :e!r !  
cov]$ app /ore provid] has obta9$       
v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t 9 accordance )  
?is section4  7b7 ,rules ( con/ruction  
,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$--   
7#a7 to prev5t a cov]$ app /ore provid] 
f tak+ reasonable measures to block1    
detect1 or prev5t ! di/ribution (       
unlawful1 obsc5e1 or o!r h>mful mat]ial 
to m9ors1 to block or filt] spam1 to    
prev5t crim9al activity1 or to protect !
 security ( an app /ore or app2  7#b7 to
 require a cov]$ app /ore provid] to    
disclose to a develop] any in=mation    
ab\t a us] o!r ?an su* us]'s age        
category &1 ) respect to any us] t is a 
m9or1 :e!r ! cov]$ app /ore provid] has 

obta9$ v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t 9        
accordance ) ?is section2  7#c7 to all[ 
a cov]$ app /ore provid] to use any     
measures requir$ by ?is section 9 a way 
t is arbitr>y1 caprici\s1               
anti-competitive1 or unlawful2 or  7#d7 
to affect or re/rict ! expression (     
political1 religi\s1 or o!r viewpo9ts4  
#e4 ,develop] obligations  7a7 ,app age 
rat+ ,to ! ext5t t a develop] provides  
age rat+s or descriptions ( cont5t to   
us]s1 ! develop] %all-- 7#a7 cle>ly     
provide ! description ( cont5t & cle>ly 
id5tify ! age category eligible = usage 
( an app consi/5t ) ! rat+ sy/em        
develop$ 9 accordance ) ! be/ practices 
e/abli%$ by ! ,advisory ,committee "u   
section #f2 &  7#b7 provide su*         
in=mation to ea* app /ore available 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates4  7b7 ,p>5tal ov]sight (  
app usage ,to ! ext5t te*nically        
feasible1 ea* develop] %all use !       
application programm+ int]face ( a cov]$
 app /ore provid] to v]ify-- 7#a7 ! age 
category ( its us]s2 &  7#b7 9 ! case ( 

a m9or1 :e!r v]ifiable p>5tal cons5t has
 be5 obta9$ be=e all[+ ! use ( ! app or 
9-app pur*ases4  7c7 ,"t re/rictions    
,ea* develop] %all provide readily      
available features = a p>5t to implem5t 
"t re/rictions ) respect to ! app ( su* 
develop]1 includ+ ! ability to view     
metrics reflect+ ! am\nt ( "t t a m9or  
is us+ ! app & set daily "t limits on a 
m9or's use ( su* app4  7d7 ,use ( app   
/ore provid] signal ,ea* develop] %all  
use a cov]$ app /ore provid]'s signal to
 det]m9e ! age category ( a us]4  #f4   
,app age rat+s transp>5cy advisory      
committee  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an  
#fj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,commission %all e/abli% &      
conv5e ! ,app ,age ,rat+s ,transp>5cy   
,advisory ,committee 79 ?is section     
ref]r$ to z ! ,advisory ,committee7 to  
recomm5d be/ practices reg>d+ ! age rat+
 ( apps (f]$ on ! app /ore ( any cov]$  
app /ore provid] = diff]5t age          
categories4  7b7 ,p>ticipation ,!       
,advisory ,committee %all include memb]s

 f-- 7#a7 cont5t creators2  7#b7        
develop]s2  7#c7 public int]e/ gr\ps    
focus$ on *ild welf>e2  7#d7 p>5ts2 &   
7#e7 any o!r repres5tatives deem$       
appropriate by ! ,commission4  7c7      
,report ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date  
on :i* ! ,advisory ,committee is        
e/abli%$1 & e #c ye>s !reaft] until !   
date describ$ 9 subsection 7d71 !       
,advisory ,committee %all submit to     
,congress1 & publi% 9 a publicly        
available mann]1 a report t includes    
recomm5dations = be/ practices reg>d+ ! 
age rat+ ( apps (f]$ on ! app /ore ( any
 cov]$ app /ore provid]4  7d7 ,t]m9ation
 ,! ,advisory ,committee %all t]m9ate on
 ! date t is #ae ye>s aft] ! date on :i*
 ! ,advisory ,committee is e/abli%$1    
unless ! ,commission det]m9es t !       
cont9u$ involvem5t & guidance ( !       
,advisory ,committee is 9 ! public      
int]e/4  7e7 ,non-,applicability (      
,,faca ,*apt] #aj ( title #e1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 o!r ?an section #ajji (   
su* ,*apt]1 %all n apply to ! ,advisory 

,committee e/abli%$ "u ?is section4  #g4
 ,compliance ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !  
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !           
,commission %all issue guidance to assi/
 cov]$ app /ore provid]s & develop]s 9  
comply+ ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is ,act4  #h4
 ,en=cem5t  7a7 ,unfair or deceptive    
acts or practice ,a violation ( ?is ,act
 or a regulation promulgat$ !reund] %all
 be treat$ z a violation ( a rule def9+ 
an unfair or deceptive act or practice  
"u section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 ( ! ,f$]al  
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#eg;a7a77#a77;,b774  7b7 ,p[]s ( !      
,commission  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to  
subsection 7c71 ! ,commission %all en=ce
 ?is ,act 9 ! same mann]1 by ! same     
means1 & ) ! same jurisdiction1 p[]s1 & 
duties z ?\gh all applicable t]ms &     
provisions ( ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission
 ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq47 7     
incorporat$ into & made a "p ( ?is ,act4
  7#b7 ,privileges & immunities ,any    
p]son :o violates ?is ,act or a         
regulation promulgat$ !reund] %all be   

subject to ! p5alties & entitl$ to !    
privileges & immunities provid$ 9 !     
,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae     
,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq474  7#c7 ,au?ority 
pres]v$ ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$
 to limit ! au?ority ( ! ,commission "u 
any o!r provision ( law4  7c7           
,additional p5alties & au?ority ,9      
addition to ! au?ority & p5alties       
provid$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission   
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq471 !     
foll[+ au?ority & p5alties %all apply ) 
respect to a violation ( ?is ,act3 7#a7 
,specific civil p5alties  7,a7 ,kn[+    
mis/atem5t ( cont5t ,any cov]$ app /ore 
provid] or develop] :o kn[+ly &         
willfully mis/ates ! cont5t ( an app z  
requir$ "u section #d7;a77#g7 or #e7;a7 
%all be subject to a civil p5alty ( #ejj
 = ea* us] z det]m9$ by ! ,commission4  
7,b7 ,neglig5t mis/atem5ts ( cont5t ,any
 cov]$ app /ore provid] or develop] :o  
neglig5tly mis/ates ! cont5t ( an app z 
requir$ "u section #d7;a77#g7 or #e7;a7 
%all be subject to a civil p5alty ( #bej

 = ea* us] z det]m9$ by ! ,commission4  
7,c7 ,failure to v]ify p>5tal cons5t    
,any cov]$ app /ore provid] or develop] 
:o kn[+ly or neglig5tly fails to comply 
) p>5tal cons5t v]ification z requir$ "u
 ?is ,act %all be subject to a civil    
p5alty ( #a1jjj = ea* us] z det]m9$ by !
 ,commission4  7,d7 ,maximum p5alty ,!  
am\nt ( any civil p5alty "u ?is p>agraph
 %all n exce$ a total ( #d1jjj1jjj1jjj  
p] violation4  7,e7 ,con/ru+ specific   
civil p5alties ,ea* in/ance ( mis/atem5t
 ( cont5t or failure to obta9 v]ifiable 
p>5tal cons5t %all be def9$ by ! numb] (
 individual d[nloads or pur*ases ( an   
app t occurr$ 9 noncompliance ) ?is     
,act4  7#b7 ,g5]al civil p5alties  7,a7 
,9 g5]al ,any cov]$ app /ore provid] or 
develop] :o violates any provision ( ?is
 ,act or any regulation promulgat$ "u   
?is ,act1 o!r ?an violations describ$ 9 
p>agraph 7#a71 %all be subject to a     
civil p5alty = ea* violation4  7,b7     
,maximum p5alty ,! am\nt ( any civil    
p5alty "u ?is p>agraph %all n exce$     

#b1jjj1jjj1jjj p] violation4  7#c7      
,injunctive relief  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,commission may seek a tempor>y re/ra9+ 
ord]1 prelim9>y injunction1 or p]man5t  
injunction to prev5t any violation ( ?is
 ,act or any regulation promulgat$      
!reund]4  7,b7 ,additional relief ,!    
,commission may seek o!r =ms ( equitable
 relief1 includ+ rescission or re=mation
 ( contracts1 re/itution1 ! refund (    
money1 & ! return ( prop]ty4  7#d7      
,consum] r$ress ,! ,commission may seek 
monet>y r$ress = consum]s affect$ by a  
violation ( ?is ,act or any regulation  
promulgat$ !reund]1 includ+ ?r\gh a     
refund1 reimbursem5t1 or o!r =m (       
comp5sation4  7#e7 ,cease & desi/ ord]s 
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,commission may issue a
 cease & desi/ ord] to prohibit fur!r   
violation ( ?is ,act or any regulation  
promulgat$ !reund]4  7,b7 ,compliance   
requirem5ts ,cease & desi/ ord]s issu$  
"u ?is p>agraph may include specific    
compliance requirem5ts su* z *anges to  
bus9ess practices1 disclosures1 &       

record-keep+4  7#f7 ,maximum p5alties ,!
 maximum p5alty describ$ 9 p>agraph     
7#a77;,d7 or p>agraph 7#b77;,b7 %all be 
d\bl$ ^u a f9d+ by ! ,commission t !    
cov]$ app /ore provid] or develop] 9    
violation ( ?is ,act or a regulation    
promulgat$ !reund] has repeat$ly or     
flagrantly violat$ ?is ,act or a        
regulation promulgat$ !reund]4  #i4     
,preemption ,any law1 regulation1 or o!r
 requirem5t ( a ,/ate or political      
subdivision ( a ,/ate ) respect to      
impos+ sub/antially simil> or ! same    
obligations on app /ore provid]s &      
develop]s z laid out 9 ?is ,act is h]eby
 preempt$ by ?is ,act4  #aj4            
,sev]ability ,if any provision ( ?is    
,act1 or ! application !re( to any p]son
 or circum/ance1 is held invalid1 !     
rema9d] ( ?is ,act1 & ! application (   
su* provision to o!r p]sons n simil>ly  
situat$ or to o!r circum/ances1 %all n  
be affect$ by ! invalidation4  #aa4     
,effective date ,except z o!rwise       
provid$ 9 ?is ,act1 ?is ,act %all take  

effect on ! date t is #a ye> aft] ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4