5th Circuit Lets Texas Under-18 App Age-Check Law Take Effect
Updated
Updated · KBTX · Jun 2
5th Circuit Lets Texas Under-18 App Age-Check Law Take Effect
3 articles · Updated · KBTX · Jun 2
Thursday’s administrative stay lets Texas enforce Senate Bill 2420 for now, requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before anyone under 18 downloads apps or makes in-app purchases.
The 5th U.S. Circuit blocked a December injunction from U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, who had found the law likely violated the First Amendment; the appeals panel gave no explanation and could still reverse course.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued the state can regulate minors’ app-store transactions to protect children online, while the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas say the law restricts broad swaths of online speech.
The measure also requires developers to label apps for four age groups, and similar laws in Louisiana and Utah have passed but have not yet taken effect.