The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted Texas to enforce a law mandating that app stores verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors under 18 to download apps. This decision, made on July 6, allows the state to implement Senate Bill 2420, also known as the App Store Accountability Act, while a legal challenge is ongoing.
Passed in 2025, the law obligates app store operators, including major companies like Apple and Google, to confirm the age of users. Additionally, it requires app developers to categorize their products for specific age groups: children under 13, teens aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 and 17, and adults 18 and older. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has stated that this ruling is a significant step toward protecting children 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. A federal judge initially blocked the law in December, citing potential constitutional violations. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later allowed enforcement to proceed until a final ruling is made. An expedited hearing is scheduled for early August to address the case's merits.
