The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted Texas to enforce a law that mandates app stores to verify the ages of users and obtain parental consent for minors before they can download applications. This ruling allows the state to implement the measure while a legal dispute is ongoing.
The court's decision, issued on July 6, did not include any comments or dissenting opinions. It rejected requests to pause Senate Bill 2420, which is referred to as the App Store Accountability Act. As the case returns to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguments regarding the law's constitutionality are scheduled for early August.
Enacted in 2025, the legislation requires app store operators, including major companies like Apple and Google, to confirm users' ages and secure consent from parents or guardians for anyone under 18 wishing to download apps or make in-app purchases. Additionally, app developers must categorize their products based on suitability for various age groups: children under 13, teens aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 to 17, and adults aged 18 and over.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the ruling as a win for online child protection. 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. The legal battle has seen the law initially blocked by a federal judge in Austin, but a subsequent appeal allowed enforcement to proceed until the appeals court makes a ruling. The Supreme Court's order does not resolve the constitutional issues at stake, leaving the possibility for either party to return to the court after the appeals process concludes.
