The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted Texas to enforce a law that mandates app stores to verify users' ages and secure parental consent for minors to download apps. This decision, issued on July 6, allows the state to implement Senate Bill 2420, known as the App Store Accountability Act, while a legal challenge is ongoing.
The law, passed in 2025, compels app store operators like Apple and Google to confirm the age of users in Texas. It requires consent from a parent or guardian for anyone under 18 to download apps or make in-app purchases. Additionally, app developers must label their products for one of four age categories: children under 13, teens aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 and 17, and adults aged 18 and older.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the ruling as a victory for child protection online. The law faced opposition from the Computer and Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, who argue it infringes on First Amendment rights. They contend that requiring personal data for internet access is akin to needing identification to enter a bookstore.
The law's enforcement was initially blocked by a federal judge in Austin, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the state to proceed with enforcement while the case is reviewed. An expedited hearing is scheduled for early August to discuss the law's constitutionality.
