5th Circuit Lets Texas Under-18 App Age-Check Law Take Effect
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 28
5th Circuit Lets Texas Under-18 App Age-Check Law Take Effect
5 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 28
A 5th U.S. Circuit panel temporarily lifted a lower-court injunction, allowing Texas to enforce Senate Bill 2420 while the appeal continues.
The law requires Apple, Google and other app stores to verify every user's age, get parental consent before under-18s download apps or make in-app purchases, and carry 4 age-suitability categories from under 13 to adults.
The panel gave no reasoning, and its administrative stay could still be reversed after fuller review by the appeals court.
Judge Robert Pitman had blocked the measure in December, saying it likely violated the First Amendment; tech and student groups suing Texas argue it restricts a vast amount of online speech.
Texas, backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, says the state can regulate minors' app-store transactions, joining Louisiana and Utah in pushing similar child-safety laws.
As Texas enforces app age checks, are we protecting children or building a massive new target for hackers?
With a global push for online age gates, is a truly private and open internet for young people becoming impossible?
Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) Enforced: What It Means for Minors, Developers, and the First Amendment
Overview
The Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, is now in effect after a court lifted a previous block. The law aims to protect the mental health of Texas children by requiring app stores and developers to restrict minors’ access to certain content without parental consent. Proponents designed the law broadly to avoid content-based legal challenges, while opponents, including major tech groups, argue it violates First Amendment rights. As lawsuits continue, the law’s enforcement marks a major shift in how online safety for minors is regulated, with national implications for digital rights and privacy.