US Supreme Court has cleared way for Texas to enforce a law forcing app stores to verify user ages,get parental consent for minors downloading apps or making in-app buys. Decision comes amid ongoing legal fight over App Store Accountability Act, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2025.
Law requires app accounts for under-18s to link to parent or guardian. Before downloads, parents must be informed of app's age rating, approve it . Texas officials argue it's crucial today,where kids can access wide content without oversight.
Texas Solicitor General William Peterson said, “the modern digital world is different” from past, stressing need for safeguards. But critics say law goes beyond protection,infringes on rights .
Two students, advocacy group Students Engaged in Advancing Texas,and Computer & Communications Industry Association,representing app giants like Apple and Google, started legal battle . They claim law breaches First Amendment by imposing age checks, limiting online content access .
“No state has ever required its citizens to prove their age before reading newspaper,entering bookstore, or even accessing internet,” the Computer & Communications Industry Association stated. “The Texas law does exactly that — for every mobile app on every mobile phone.”
US District Judge Robert Pitman echoed this,blocking law in December . He compared age checks to making bookstores check ages before entry,needing parental okay for minors to buy books.
Despite these issues,federal appeals court in June ruled Texas could enforce law while legal fight continues. Court acknowledged state's “substantial, if not compelling,interest in protecting children,” saying parents need info to decide on kids' online activities.
Monday, Supreme Court chose not to step in, upholding appeals court's decision. Follows last year's similar ruling from Supreme Court, which upheld Texas law requiring age checks for porn sites. Decision split court 6-3,conservatives in majority,liberals dissenting.
Texas law part of bigger push in US and globally to boost parental control over kids' online interactions, counter social media risks. Last year, Australia made headlines as first to ban social media for under-16s…
