Google, Meta Among Tech Leaders and Child Advocates Voicing Support for Wicks’ Digital Age Assurance Act

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) today announced growing support from major technology companies and children’s advocacy organizations for her landmark legislation the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), which would establish a secure, privacy-first framework for age assurance on digital platforms.

AB 1043 would require operating system providers and app stores to implement a simple, non-invasive age assurance signal — empowering parents, protecting children, and creating consistency for businesses.

“Parents shouldn’t have to choose between letting their kids participate in the digital world and keeping them safe,” said Assemblymember Wicks. “AB 1043 ensures we finally have a consistent, privacy-first way to verify age online — giving families the confidence that tech platforms can build the right protections for kids into their products. I’m grateful to the tech leaders and child safety advocates who are stepping up to support this important work.”

AB 1043 creates an actual knowledge standard about a child’s age range without collecting unnecessary personal information or interfering with parental tools that already exist. By providing a simple, real-time age signal, the bill ensures platforms can accurately apply age-appropriate protections while allowing parents to continue using and customizing the safety features they rely on today.

Importantly, AB 1043 prohibits the collection of additional personal data beyond what is needed for real-time age signals and sets penalties for noncompliance — up to $7,500 per intentional violation — enforced by the California Attorney General.

“As chair of the committee responsible for social media legislation, it is great to see leaders in tech and child advocacy coming together to support and protect our youth,” said Sen. Tom Umberg, who worked closely with Asm. Wicks on the bill. “As technology becomes a central part of kids' lives, it’s our responsibility to ensure it’s a force for good – not harm. I’m proud to partner with Assemblymember Wicks on AB 1043 to hold companies accountable and protect the mental and emotional health of California’s children."

Next Steps:

The bill will next come up for a vote on the Senate Floor. If passed and signed into law, the Digital Age Assurance Act will make California the first state to establish a comprehensive, privacy-first age assurance framework to protect kids online.

What Major Tech Companies Are Saying: 

Google:
“We commend Assemblymember Wicks and Senator Umberg for a deliberative process that empowers California parents and protects the privacy of their children. Assembly Bill 1043 is one of the most thoughtful approaches we’ve seen thus far to the challenges of keeping kids safe, recognizing that it’s a shared responsibility across the ecosystem.” 

– Kareem Ghanem, Senior Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google 

Internet Works (a coalition of tech companies including Reddit, Pinterest, Roblox and more):
“Internet Works member companies are committed to working with lawmakers to ensure safer online experiences for users of all ages. Assemblymember Wicks has demonstrated real leadership and dedication to protecting children online, and we appreciate her thoughtful, pragmatic approach with the Digital Age Assurance Act. This legislation reflects the kind of collaboration that can produce effective, balanced policy, and we look forward to continuing to be part of the discussion as it moves ahead.”

– Peter Chandler, Executive Director, Internet Works  

Meta:
 “Understanding the age of people online is an industry-wide challenge, and as we continue our efforts at Meta to build products that are age-appropriate for teens, we applaud Assemblymember Wicks for advancing AB 1043. This legislation would centralize age verification within app stores and operating systems, which Meta supports. In doing so, it would give teens a better, age-appropriate online experience while giving parents peace of mind.” 

– Dan Sachs, Vice President of State Policy for Meta

What Child Safety Advocates Are Saying: 

Children Now (Bill Sponsor):
“Ensuring online spaces for kids are age-appropriate and free of harmful behaviors is immensely important for their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We enthusiastically support this Pro-Kid bill and welcome the support of technology companies to help kids explore the digital world more safely.”

– Lishaun Francis, Senior Director of Behavioral Health, Children Now 

Common Sense Media:
"Common Sense Media believes AB 1043 is a timely and important step toward a safer, more age-appropriate online world for our children. By making it easier for parents to signal age and increasing accountability for tech companies, this bill begins to lay the groundwork for age-appropriate online experiences. It also distributes responsibility across the tech ecosystem. Common Sense Media appreciates Assemblymember Wicks’ attention to protecting young users’ privacy while making age assurance a priority."

– James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media

 

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