The App Association

👇Thread from small business owners and app developers on the real effects of the App Store Accountability Act. It's a flawed approach that doesn't empower parents, doesn't keep kids safe, and crushes small businesses and innovation.

Positive news for the small tech ecosystem! This week, Reps. @RepSuhas & @JayObernolte introduced the Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act, making it clear AI innovation isn’t just a "Big Tech" game. This bipartisan bill ensures small AI business perspectives are included when policymakers consider: 💰 Access to Funding & Seed Capital 📑 R&D Tax Credits 👥 Recruiting & Retaining Top-tier Talent ⚖️ Regulatory Clarity We're proud to support this effort to keep the U.S. competitive. Let’s empower the smallest innovators! 🇺🇸 Learn more: subramanyam.house.gov/media/press-re…

We need to stop treating every AI tool like a social media giant. The App Store Accountability Act (ASAA) is a sweeping mandate that forces every developer into a one-size-fits-all age gatekeeper role. It doesn't matter if you're building a voice transcription service or an accessibility aid; you would be caught in the same compliance dragnet and Facebook and Grindr. By replacing efficient parental tools with a fragmented system that forces every app to collect sensitive personal information, the ASAA creates a massive burden for small teams without providing any safety benefit for kids. If we want the U.S. to lead in AI, we can't start that effort by sabotaging our own developers. Read the full breakdown here: actonline.org/2026/03/03/the…

“The United States must avoid this kind of unforced error in the competition with leading powers in AI and instead stay focused on providing a comprehensive federal framework that supports innovation while protecting consumers,” said @morganwreed in a statement on ACT's amicus brief in support of Anthropic's request for an injunction in District Court. Read ACT's full statement: actonline.org/2026/03/13/act…

The limit did not exist for the fun we had last night! Thanks for making our Pi Day Happy Hour infinitely successful. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to Hawk ’n’ Dove; we loved celebrating STEM/STEAM education with all of you. See you next year!

Earlier today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA). This bill misses the mark by forcing small developers to collect sensitive data, creating massive security risks. We’re calling on Congress to pivot to the Parents Over Platforms Act (POPA) for a more secure, common-sense approach that will actually empower parents and small businesses to keep kids safe online. Read our full statement: actonline.org/2026/03/05/act…

I keep seeing supporters of ASAA suggest that you need a new law for parents to be able to reject or approve downloads. You can already do this in the settings on your phone and your child’s. ASAA replaces current system with a worse one. actonline.org/2026/03/04/the…

🚨 Today, as the @HouseCommerce considers proposals to protect kids online, it's clear that the App Store Accountability Act risks user privacy and buries small developers in red tape. Congress should instead support the Parents Over Platforms ACt (H.R. 6333) for a privacy-first approach that empowers parents without crushing innovation. Learn more: actonline.org/u-s-h-r-3149-a…

“By registering third-party app stores, @Android can help maintain a level of confidence between the platforms, consumers, and ultimately small tech businesses." - @morganwreed "Given the ongoing seismic shift towards AI in the software development industry, maintaining trust is critical, and this agreement should help keep us on that path.” Full Comment: actonline.org/2026/03/04/act…

Proponents of #ASAA point out that people can 'easily verify their identity' using credit cards, but what does that mean for the 20% of US adults who don't have one? For @RepGuthrie that's about 150K people in your district who would have to find an even more intrusive way to verify their identity just to download apps. fool.com/money/research…

As @HouseCommerce takes up their kids safety bills later this week, we’ve developed a helpful explainer that delves deep into some of the core age verification issues: 1) what parents actually want, 2) the fundamental challenges in mandating the collection of government IDs to identify ages (something  7 out of 10 Americans are uncomfortable with), and 3) why it’s critical that a child’s private age signal is only shared with parental consent, and only with the limited number of apps that host age-inappropriate content (more than half of adults do not trust apps to keep kids’ age information secure). It’s no surprise that 90% of parents are concerned about protecting their children’s privacy, identity and safety online. But they don’t want to let social media off the hook as some proposals do (65% believe social media has a critical role to play in protecting kids.)  At the same time, a majority of parents believe that a one-time age check at the point of download will not make kids more safe online. Instead, 70% of parents say that protections should be constantly keeping minors safe while they use an app.  Parents and their kids deserve solutions that are not only effective, but that can also protect their safety, privacy, and constitutional rights simultaneously. trustedfuture.org/age-verificati…

Really? Cause your site’s privacy policy (digitalprogress.tech/privacy-policy/) lists off a bunch of data you collect, including personally identifiable. For example highlighted in this screenshot. Sounds like more people should be asking if you’re qualified to weigh in on this issue if you don’t know what’s in your own privacy policy.

@GDufault Unlike your members, my site doesn't collect data. Doesn't apply, so a VPC system is unnecessary. But thanks for asking!

Well, Thayer PLLC is just as child-directed as most of our members, so I guess you’ve also been violating COPPA this whole time as well by not having a VPC system set up?

@approject App stores already provide parental consent mechanisms. ASAA robs parents of these tools and imposes unjustifiable costs on any small business with an app: actonline.org/2026/03/03/the…

Tough to see E&C repeating this, it is not an argument, it’s an attempt to recast a speech regulation as “commercial.” We debunked it a while ago: shorturl.at/z5POF

📅March 11 @ 12 PM ET: Will diverging state privacy laws push Congress toward a federal standard—or make agreement harder? Experts from @ALEC_states, @GovWaste, & @actonline will discuss the implications of state privacy laws. Register for the webinar👇 vist.ly/4t7fd

This week, @actonline is in Brussels for our 2nd annual #EU Global App Economy Conference. Having fun & making sure #EU policymakers hear from #smallbiz innovators about how digital regs affect them—from #DMA to #GDPR.

👏 During a #SOTN26 panel, SOS member and President of @actonline, @morganwreed, discussed the evolving role of standards in the future of AI, highlighting the abusive tactics SEP holders use to stifle innovation.

Small and medium-sized businesses are the engine of American innovation, but "patent trolls" threaten their intellectual property and undermine innovation in fields such as AI and quantum computing. Which is why we recently joined 35+ trade groups urging the White House to reject the @USPTO’s latest proposed rule changes that defang the PTAB. This proposed rule won't protect inventors; it will protect bad actors and stifle competition. Let’s keep the PTAB accessible—the way Congress intended. Read more (paywalled): mlex.com/mlex/intellect…

New in @WSJ: @actonline President @morganwreed & member @JointheRimidi discuss the $100k H-1B fee. Morgan: “It’s the big guys who are OK and the small guys who are... going in a different direction.” Rimidi: “It would be prohibitive for us to pay.” Policy shouldn't punish small businesses. wsj.com/business/big-t…

Yesterday, ACT President @Morganwreed spoke at #SOTN2026! 🏛️ Joining a panel to discuss "Sovereign AI and the New Internet Order," Morgan discussed how decentralized intelligence is reshaping global tech policy. Grateful for the chance to help bridge the gap between policy makers, regulators, and the app community. #AI #TechPolicy #SovereignAI