Supreme Court Allows Texas to Enforce Age Verification Law for App Downloads

Jul 6, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed a Texas law requiring age verification and parental consent for app downloads by minors to take effect while legal challenges continue. The law, challenged by tech industry groups like the CCIA on free speech grounds, is now enforceable after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a lower court's injunction. Texas argues the law is necessary to protect children's safety and privacy in the digital world.

Supreme Court decision

▪The Supreme Court's decision allows the Texas law to be enforced while legal challenges continue in lower courts.
▪The U.S. Supreme Court on July 6, 2026, declined to block a Texas law requiring age verification for app downloads.
▪In 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a separate Texas law that requires age verification for pornographic websites.

Texas App Store Accountability Act

▪The Texas App Store Accountability Act was passed in 2025 and signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
▪The Texas App Store Accountability Act requires app stores and developers to verify the age of mobile device users.
▪The law mandates that accounts for people under 18 be linked to the account of a parent or guardian.
▪Under the Texas law, users under 18 must obtain parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases.

Free speech legal challenges

▪Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued the state has a significant interest in protecting children's data, safety, and privacy.
▪The CCIA, whose members include Apple and Google, argued the law forces app stores to police access to online speech.
▪The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and a student group sued to stop the law, citing First Amendment free speech violations.
▪A bipartisan group of 27 state attorneys general filed in support of Texas's position.

Child protection regulation trend

▪Australia in 2025 became the first country to ban social media for children under 16.
▪The Texas law is part of a broader trend by states and countries to regulate children's smartphone and social media use.

Lower court rulings

▪On June 4, 2026, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals paused the injunction, allowing the law to take effect.
▪The 5th Circuit wrote that Texas has a "substantial, if not compelling, interest in protecting children."
▪In December 2025, U.S. Judge Robert Pitman granted an injunction halting the law, finding it likely violates the First Amendment.