Tea, Trust, and the Trouble with Age Verification Mandates
What the recent Tea app breach teaches us about age verification, trust, and the cost of age verification mandates for developers and kids alike What happens when an app built for safety becomes the source of harm? The now-infamous app Tea, designed to help women protect themselves while dating men, asked users to upload selfies holding their government-issued ID. That voluntary safety feature resulted in the collection of some of the most sensitive personal data an app [...]
Mid-Year Roundup: 2025—Public Policy Changes Shaping Android Development
As we reach the midpoint of 2025, mobile app developers—especially those working on Android—are navigating a public policy environment that is rapidly evolving on multiple fronts. This year, we’ve already seen major developments across privacy, artificial intelligence (AI), app marketplace rules, child safety, and federal taxation. Below, we’ve outlined key information you need to anticipate compliance needs, spot opportunities, and understand new pressures shaping app development and business strategy. The State Patchwork: Privacy Legislation Expands Once again, the United [...]
Japan Fair Trade Commission Fails to Address Deep Concerns of Small and Independent App Developers
WASHINGTON – The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has finalized its guidelines to implement the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specific Smartphone Software (SSCPA). ACT | The App Association issued the following statement: "The App Association remains deeply concerned with Japan's intervention into curated online marketplaces (COMs) through its Act on Promotion of Competition for Specific Smartphone Software (SSCPA),” said Morgan Reed, president of ACT | The App Association. “The final guidelines for SSCPA implementation, recently released by [...]