The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to block a Texas law mandating age verification for app store users. This ruling allows the state to implement the measure while a legal challenge is ongoing. The law, known as Senate Bill 2420, was passed in 2025 and requires app store operators like Apple and Google to confirm users' ages and obtain parental consent for individuals under 18 before they can download apps or make in-app purchases.
The legislation also instructs app developers to categorize their products based on age appropriateness, specifically for children under 13, teenagers aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 and 17, and adults aged 18 and over. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the Supreme Court's decision as a win for child safety online.
Opposition to the law comes 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 be required to provide personal information to access the internet, similar to not needing ID to enter a bookstore.
The law has faced various legal challenges, initially being blocked by a federal judge in Austin. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed enforcement to continue pending further hearings, which are scheduled for early August. The Supreme Court's order does not resolve the constitutional issues at stake, leaving the possibility for further appeals.
