Louisiana lawmakers are still weighing new age-verification requirements for app stores and developers, as House Bill 570 (HB 570) remains active in the legislative process. It passed both chambers unanimously and entered conference committee this month after lawmakers adopted differing amendments.
HB 570 Seeks Age Checks and Parental Consent
HB 570, introduced during the 2025 Regular Session, would require digital platforms and app stores operating in Louisiana to collect each user’s age category and obtain verifiable parental consent for minors. App developers would be required to provide content ratings and ensure enforcement of parental controls during downloads and in-app purchases.
The proposal builds on Louisiana’s recent legislative efforts in this area. In 2022, the state enacted Act 440, mandating age verification for adult websites. In 2024, lawmakers passed HB 577 – now Act 656 – which restricts targeted advertising to minors. HB 570 would extend these protections to mobile applications and digital distribution platforms.
Privacy and Industry Pushback
Although HB 570 has broad legislative backing, privacy advocates and technology industry groups have raised alarms about its potential impact. Critics argue that mandatory identity and age verification could lead to excessive data collection, heightening the risk of privacy violations and security breaches. Similar concerns recently shaped privacy reforms in Colorado, where lawmakers introduced new rules for storing and deleting biometric identifiers.
Industry representatives have also warned that the bill could impose significant compliance costs, particularly for smaller developers. Some companies suggest the rules could deter innovation or prompt platforms to restrict access to apps in Louisiana.
HB 570’s trajectory comes amid a broader national debate over online child safety and digital identity regulation. In Arkansas, a federal court struck down Act 689, a similar age-verification law for social media, citing First Amendment violations. Lawmakers there are now revising the law. Meanwhile, at the federal level, a high-profile enforcement case – Microsoft’s $20 million FTC settlement over COPPA violations – highlights growing regulatory pressure around children’s data.
The final language of HB 570 will be determined in conference committee, where House and Senate negotiators must reconcile amendments before sending the bill to the governor. If enacted, Louisiana would join a growing list of states seeking to balance child safety, parental oversight, and user privacy in the digital ecosystem.
Source: Louisiana Legislature
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By Cass Kennedy
