The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to block a Texas law that mandates app stores to verify the ages of users and secure parental consent for minors downloading apps. This ruling allows the enforcement of the App Store Accountability Act while a legal challenge is ongoing.
Senate Bill 2420, passed in 2025, requires app store operators, including major companies like Apple and Google, to confirm the age of users in Texas. It also stipulates that parental or guardian consent is necessary for anyone under 18 to download applications or make in-app purchases. Furthermore, app developers must categorize their products for specific age groups: children under 13, teens aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 to 17, and adults aged 18 and above.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has praised the Supreme Court's decision as a win for child safety online. The law faces opposition from the Computer and Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, who argue it infringes on First Amendment rights. CCIA President Matt Schruers stated that individuals should not need to provide personal information to access the internet, similar to not requiring ID to enter a bookstore.
The law has undergone various legal challenges, with a federal judge in Austin previously blocking it, citing potential First Amendment violations. However, the 5th Circuit Court allowed Texas to enforce the law while the appeals process continues, with a hearing scheduled for early August to discuss the law's constitutionality.
