TL;DR
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that prevents Texas from enforcing the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) while litigation continues. Apple said it will pause planned implementation of developer tools aimed at meeting the law and will monitor the legal process.
What happened
A federal judge, Robert Pitman, issued a preliminary injunction stopping Texas from enforcing SB 2420, the state law that would have required platforms like the App Store to verify users’ ages before app downloads or access to paid in-app content. The injunction followed a legal challenge brought by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Apple, Google and Amazon. In his order the judge signaled that the law is "more likely than not unconstitutional," raising First Amendment concerns and likening the statute to a requirement that bookstores verify every customer’s age at the door. Apple had already released APIs and sandbox tools for developers to comply, but after the ruling the company said it will pause previously announced implementation plans and watch the ongoing legal process. Texas cannot enforce SB 2420 while the injunction stands, though the state is expected to appeal, potentially moving the dispute to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Why it matters
- The injunction pauses an immediate compliance burden on App Store developers and Apple’s platform changes.
- A court finding that SB 2420 likely violates the First Amendment could influence similar proposals in other states and at the federal level.
- Apple’s paused rollout highlights tensions between state regulation, platform responsibilities and privacy-preserving age-assurance approaches.
- The outcome will affect how app stores balance child-safety rules with developers’ and users’ privacy.
Key facts
- SB 2420 (Texas App Store Accountability Act) would have required platforms to verify user ages for app downloads and paid in-app content.
- U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of SB 2420.
- The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed the motion challenging the law; its members include Amazon, Apple and Google.
- Judge Pitman expressed that SB 2420 is "more likely than not unconstitutional," citing First Amendment concerns and using a bookstore analogy.
- Apple had released developer tools and APIs intended to help comply with the law prior to the injunction.
- After the ruling, Apple said it will pause previously announced implementation plans and monitor the legal process.
- Apple named specific tools it had announced — Declared Age Range API, Significant Change API under PermissionKit, a new age rating property in StoreKit, and App Store Server Notifications.
- Apple noted the Declared Age Range API remains available worldwide on iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 or later.
- Although enforcement is blocked for now, Texas is likely to appeal and the case could move to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The ruling may bolster arguments against comparable laws in Utah and Louisiana and against a proposed federal measure.
What to watch next
- Whether Texas files an appeal and how the case proceeds if it heads to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- How courts treat the First Amendment arguments at later stages of litigation (not confirmed in the source).
- If and when Apple resumes implementation of the developer tools it paused, depending on legal developments.
- How similar laws in Utah and Louisiana — and any federal proposals — are affected by this injunction.
Quick glossary
- Preliminary injunction: A temporary court order that prevents a party from taking certain actions while a legal challenge proceeds.
- API: Application Programming Interface — a set of rules and tools developers use to build software features that interact with other services or platforms.
- App Store: A digital marketplace operated by a platform (such as Apple) where users download apps and in-app content.
- Age verification: Methods used to confirm a user’s age before granting access to age-restricted content or services.
- First Amendment: The U.S. constitutional protection for free speech and related expressive activities; often invoked in legal challenges to regulations affecting speech.
Reader FAQ
What did the judge decide?
Judge Robert Pitman granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of SB 2420 while the lawsuit proceeds.
Does this mean SB 2420 is dead?
No. Texas cannot enforce the law while the injunction is in place, but the state is likely to appeal and the case could continue.
Will Apple roll out the age-verification tools it announced?
Apple said it will pause previously announced implementation plans and monitor the legal process.
Are developers required to use Apple’s APIs now?
not confirmed in the source
iOS 26 lets you customize Liquid Glass on your iPhone, here’s how Ryan Christoffel Dec 23 2025 AAPL COMPANY TEXAS Texas judge blocks state’s App Store age verification law [U:…
Sources
- Texas judge blocks state’s App Store age verification law [U: Apple Developer]
- Texas law restricting kids from app stores blocked
- Judge blocks Texas app store age verification law
- Judge pauses Texas' app store age verification law
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