The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted Texas to implement a law mandating that app stores confirm the ages of users and secure parental approval before minors can download applications. This ruling was issued on July 6, allowing the state to enforce the legislation while a legal dispute is ongoing.
The law, passed in 2025 and identified as Senate Bill 2420, mandates that app store operators, including major companies like Apple and Google, verify user ages and obtain consent from a parent or guardian for individuals under 18. Additionally, app developers must categorize their products according to age groups: children aged 12 and under, teenagers aged 13 to 15, older teens aged 16 and 17, and adults aged 18 and above.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who supports the law, referred to the decision as a win for online child protection. The Computer and Communications Industry Association, along with Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, has challenged the law, claiming 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 needing ID to enter a bookstore.
The law has faced various legal challenges, with a federal judge in Austin previously blocking it on First Amendment grounds. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed enforcement to proceed while the case is reviewed. The court is set to hear arguments regarding the law's constitutionality in early August, and the Supreme Court's order does not address the fundamental constitutional issues at stake.
