US Supreme Court allows Texas app store age verification law to proceed

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Texas to enforce its App Store Accountability Act, which mandates age verification at the app store level. The court refused to reinstate lower court orders that had blocked the law, meaning Apple and Google must continue verifying users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors' app downloads and in-app purchases in the state.

The law was challenged by the youth advocacy group Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include major tech companies like Apple and Google. Challengers argue the law burdens First Amendment rights and imposes significant compliance costs.

Texas contended that the legislation regulates commercial transactions and aims to protect children's online privacy and safety. The state argued the law applies equally to all apps, regardless of content, and should be evaluated under a less stringent legal standard.

The Supreme Court did not provide a detailed explanation for its unsigned order. The law requires app stores to verify user ages and link accounts of users under 18 to a parent or guardian who must approve each individual app download and purchase. Developers must also assign age ratings and inform users about data collection.