Apple has invested considerable resources in lobbying efforts to steer US legislation related to child safety and smartphone usage. Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that the company has allocated substantial funds towards shaping Louisiana rules that could affect its iPhone and App Store products, focusing its influence across several states, including Louisiana.
Louisiana Legislative Push
Kim Carver, a Louisiana legislator, faced persistent lobbying from Apple while drafting a social media bill aimed at regulating teens' smartphone use in early 2024. The proposed legislation sought to compel Apple to enforce age restrictions through the App Store, a task that currently falls to individual applications. Carver noted that Apple lobbyists were in constant contact, pressing their stance daily.
Carver's deliberations with multiple tech firms included feedback from a Meta lobbyist, who suggested that centralizing age verification through the App Store would benefit parents. The feedback led Carver to incorporate provisions involving Apple in the bill, even though Apple strongly pushed back against this inclusion. Apple's representatives argued that the move, described as a “poison pill from Meta,” would unfairly transfer responsibility to Apple.
Privacy Concerns and Legislative Outcomes
Apple contended that sharing age data from its parental controls with third-party applications could infringe on user privacy. Despite these concerns, Carver initially maintained the App Store requirement in the bill. However, he soon learned that keeping this clause might lead to significant resistance in the Senate and potential legal challenges for the state.
After discussing with Senator Beth Mizell, Carver chose to drop the App Store requirement, facilitating a smoother passage through the Senate. An Apple lobbyist later expressed gratitude towards Carver for not reintroducing the clause. While Apple did not issue any public statements on the matter, Senator Mizell remarked that no other states have pursued similar legislative requirements.
Future Legislative Plans
Carver intends to revisit the App Store requirement in future legislative sessions. He voiced dissatisfaction with the existing parental controls on Apple devices, suggesting that they fall short of adequately addressing the issue. Carver's experience with setting up his 14-year-old daughter's iPhone reinforced his belief that stronger measures are needed.
Apple's lobbying tactics extend beyond Louisiana. Historically, the company's spending on lobbying has been less than that of competitors like Facebook and Amazon. Nonetheless, in 2021, Apple's lobbyists reportedly proposed investment in Louisiana's education sector in exchange for dropping the App Store clause.
The company has been an active lobbyist in other states, notably active in states like Georgia and North Dakota. In Georgia, Apple lobbyists reportedly warned legislators about potential pullbacks on significant economic development projects if certain app store legislation proceeded.
In North Dakota, Apple engaged in closed-door meetings with key Senate committee members before a hearing on app store legislation, which raised concerns about transparency and potential ethics violations. Ultimately, the legislation did not pass, reflecting Apple's influence in shaping state policy.
