The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to enforce a new state law requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors downloading apps or making in-app purchases.
The decision, issued in unsigned orders without public dissents, clears the way for the Texas App Store Accountability Act, also known as SB 2420, to take effect while legal challenges continue in lower courts. The law, which targets major platforms like Apple and Google, aims to give parents more control over the content children can access on mobile devices.
Challengers, including a students’ group and the Computer & Communications Industry Association representing tech companies, argue the requirements violate the First Amendment by imposing burdens on protected speech and forcing age verification for lawful information. A federal judge in Austin had temporarily blocked the law last December, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it last month.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a temporary measure that sets the rules during ongoing litigation over the law’s constitutionality. The Texas law reflects broader national efforts to regulate minors’ access to online content amid concerns about privacy, mental health and exposure to inappropriate material.
Similar age-verification measures have faced legal scrutiny in other states, often raising questions about free speech, data privacy and enforcement challenges for tech platforms. Supporters say the law protects children, while opponents warn it could lead to overbroad restrictions and increased data collection.
No immediate enforcement timeline was specified in the court orders, but the law was originally slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has defended the measure as a reasonable parental rights protection.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between state efforts to regulate tech platforms and federal constitutional protections.
