I read about this analogy in Fortune magazine. It concerns possible age verification legislation.
If, for example, Meta's Snap gets restricted by law from children under 13, who is responsible for checking IDs?
The App stores (Apple, Google) say that they are like a mall, and Snap would be like a liquor store in their mall, and is responsible, Meta says that the App stores are the liquor stores, and apps are simply a variety of alcohol. It's the liquor store's responsibility to check IDs.
It's just another example of how the digital world has become such an integral part of life that tech discussions are now around more than just software or technology. They also revolve around society and the law.
© 2025 Praveen Puri
