Supreme Court Allows Texas to Enforce Age Verification Law in App Stores

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to block Texas from implementing a state law requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors wishing to download apps or make in-app purchases. Justice Samuel Alito issued two brief orders denying petitions from plaintiffs arguing that the Texas App Store Accountability Act infringes on constitutional rights to free speech.

Previously, a three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the law’s enactment, overturning a district court’s earlier decision deeming the law unconstitutional. The plaintiffs challenging the law include the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton named as a defendant.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys contend the law unlawfully restricts access to First Amendment-protected content, such as news and educational materials. They argue that safeguarding these rights and enabling parents to supervise their children as they see fit align with the public interest.

Paxton’s office maintains that the law aims to protect children from potentially harmful modern products. They emphasize the risk of minors using app stores to download various applications without parental knowledge, raising concerns about privacy invasions, data sales, and exposure to unsolicited content.