For parents raising children in the digital age, the internet can be a constant source of danger. Every day, children run the risk of being exposed to violent, pornographic, and harmful content or interactions. That’s why Congress is currently considering legislation aimed at making the internet safer for children.
Lawmakers across the political spectrum are rightly focused on protecting children from predators, explicit content, and data exploitation online. But while leaders in Washington, D.C., are marching forward with proposals designed to protect children, some policymakers are pushing legislation that would do the opposite.
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Introduced earlier this year by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), the App Store Freedom Act would strip away critical privacy and security protections set up by app stores, making it easier for predators, scammers, and untrustworthy companies to reach children on their devices. So instead of strengthening the guardrails that keep harmful content and bad actors out, the App Store Freedom Act would weaken accountability and hand more power to companies that parents already don’t trust.
At the center of the App Store Freedom Act is a requirement that mobile platforms allow “sideloading.” This means content providers could force users to download apps from anywhere on the internet. They could even set up their own third-party app stores where they write the rules. In practice, this means bad actors can push people, including children, to install apps outside the protections of trusted stores.
This is a recipe for exploitation. Malicious developers could write their own privacy policies, water down security, or harvest personal data without oversight. Just imagine if Meta, which owns apps such as Instagram and Facebook, could write its own rules about what kind of data it collects and what content it can host on its platforms.
We’ve already seen what happens when companies are left to police themselves. Roblox, one of the most popular platforms for children, is under investigation by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier after repeated allegations that predators used its app to target minors. Meta reportedly approved artificial intelligence chatbots that engaged in “sensual conversations” with minors. These are not isolated incidents. Under this bill, companies such as these would have even more power with even less accountability.
Right now, app store rules and age ratings block much of the most explicit, violent, and predatory material. But these protections don’t just keep bad actors out. They also give parents real, tangible tools to shape their children’s online experiences. Built-in parental controls allow families to set age limits, approve downloads, block dangerous apps, and restrict access to content that isn’t appropriate for their children.
The App Store Freedom Act would put those tools at risk. By opening the door to unvetted third-party app stores and sideloaded software, the bill would remove a layer of structure and accountability that parents rely on. It would disempower families and shift control from parents to Big Tech companies that have a history of neglecting their responsibilities to protect young users.
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Republicans should not consider legislation that would blow a hole in these protections just as leaders in Congress are debating ways to strengthen children’s online safety. At a moment when policymakers are considering serious legislation to make the internet safer for children, including bipartisan proposals such as the Kids Online Safety Act, and other measures that would hold social media platforms accountable for harming children, lawmakers should build on that momentum, not undercut it.
Parents across the country have made it clear they want more control, clearer protections, and tougher rules for Big Tech companies that target young people online. Weakening existing safeguards would take us in the opposite direction, leaving families less protected at a time when online risks are only growing.
Kim Klacik is a political commentator and former Maryland congressional candidate.