US judge blocks Texas app store age law meant to protect children
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman blocked Texas's age verification law citing First Amendment violations and overbreadth, halting enforcement before its Jan. 1, 2026 effective date.
- Yesterday, a federal court in Austin blocked the Texas App Store Accountability Act from taking effect on January 1, 2026, before enforcement began.
- The Computer & Communications Industry Association sued to block the Texas App Store Accountability Act, arguing it burdens app operators and infringes free speech and privacy, before Jan. 1.
- The judge found parts of the law unconstitutionally vague and overbroad and said Texas failed to show its methods meet strict scrutiny, likening it to requiring bookstores to check ages at the door.
- The CCIA and major platform operators hailed the injunction as a victory, which prevents Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from enforcing SB 2420 while the state may seek review in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The decision may shape both state and federal efforts as Congress considers related bills, while Apple released APIs and sandbox tools last month and Tim Cook met lawmakers earlier this month on privacy.
54 Articles
54 Articles
US States Mandate Age Verification for App Downloads to Protect Minors
The Digital Gatekeepers’ Dilemma: App Stores Grapple with Age Verification Mandates In the evolving arena of online regulation, app stores are emerging as a new front line in the push for child safety. States across the U.S. are enacting laws that require platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store to verify users’ ages before allowing app downloads, aiming to shield minors from harmful content. This shift marks a significant escala…
Texas law requiring parental consent for minors downloading apps blocked days before going into effect
This year Governor Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 2420, a law requiring age verification and parental consent for minors downloading apps or making in-app purchases. Just over a week before it was set to go into effect the law was blocked by a federal judge.
US judge halts Texas law requiring app store age verification
A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday blocked the state from enforcing a law aimed at protecting children, requiring app stores and developers to verify the age of their users. This comes as a win for Apple, Google, and other tech companies. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott had signed the Texas App Store Accountability Act earlier this year, following similar legislation in Utah. This law required app stores to verify all users’ ages and obtain parenta…
TechCrunch
technewstube.comApple pauses app store changes in Texas after court blocks age assurance law
Apple said it will pause its plans for compliance with the new law in Texas but notes other age assurance tech remains available to developers.
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