California enacts its own internet age-gating law

Here is a 178-word summary of the news article: California has enacted a new internet age-gating law, the Digital Age Assurance Act, which requires device operating systems and app stores to prompt users to enter their age or date of birth when setting up a new phone or computer. The law will take effect on January 1, 2027, with existing devices required to implement the age verification system by July 1 of that year. Violations could result in fines of up to $2,500 per child for negligent infractions, or $7,500 per child for intentional ones. The law aims to better protect children online, with Governor Gavin Newsom citing "truly horrific and tragic examples of young people harmed by unregulated tech." It follows a wave of similar age verification laws in other states like Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. While the bill has garnered support from Meta and Google, Apple has not backed it, and the Motion Picture Association has raised concerns about potential confusion for streaming accounts. The law does not require users to upload sensitive documents like government IDs, unlike the UK's Online Safety Act.