The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to block a Texas law mandating app stores to verify the ages of users and secure parental consent for minors downloading apps. This ruling allows the state to enforce the law while a legal challenge is ongoing.
The order, issued on July 6 without dissent, permits the enforcement of Senate Bill 2420, also referred to as the App Store Accountability Act. The case will return to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is set to hear arguments regarding the law’s constitutionality in early August.
Passed in 2025, the law requires app store operators, including major companies like Apple and Google, to confirm users' ages and obtain permission from a parent or guardian for anyone under 18 wishing to download apps or make in-app purchases. Additionally, app developers must indicate whether their products are suitable for specific age categories: those under 13, ages 13 to 15, ages 16 and 17, and those 18 and older.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised 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 claim it infringes on First Amendment rights. The law's enforcement was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in Austin in December, but the 5th Circuit allowed enforcement to proceed in late May while the appeal is pending. Monday's decision from the Supreme Court maintains this enforcement until further court rulings are made.