TL;DR
A federal judge has blocked Texas' SB2420, halting enforcement of the state's new app store age‑verification requirements. Apple says it will suspend its planned Texas-specific changes while developer tools for age assurance remain available for testing and use.
What happened
A federal judge enjoined Texas from implementing SB2420, the App Store Accountability Act, citing First Amendment concerns and blocking the law that was due to take effect in January. The statute would have forced major app stores to verify user ages, require parental consent for those under 18 for downloads and purchases, and mandate that age data be shared with developers. In response to the ruling, Apple said it will pause the rollout of previously announced Texas-specific changes and continue to monitor the legal proceedings. The company also noted that tools it introduced for age assurance — including the Declared Age Range API and other developer-facing features — remain available for testing and use. The Texas attorney general’s office has indicated it plans to appeal the judge’s order, according to reporting cited in the source.
Why it matters
- The court ruling temporarily prevents a state-level mandate that would alter how app stores handle age checks, parental consent and data sharing.
- Apple’s pause lowers immediate compliance pressure for developers who had begun preparing for Texas-specific requirements.
- The case raises constitutional questions about compelled data collection and speech that could shape future state tech regulations.
- Similar proposals in other states mean the outcome may affect broader policy and product decisions across the app economy.
Key facts
- The Texas law at issue is SB2420, also called the App Store Accountability Act.
- A federal judge blocked enforcement of SB2420, citing First Amendment concerns; enforcement had been scheduled to start in January.
- SB2420 would have required app stores to verify ages, obtain parental consent for users under 18, and share age data with developers.
- Apple announced it will pause its planned changes for Texas while monitoring the ongoing legal process.
- Apple said developer tools for age assurance remain available for testing and use, including several APIs and server features.
- The Declared Age Range API will continue to be available worldwide on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and later, per Apple.
- Apple had planned Texas-specific measures such as requiring under‑18 users to join a Family Sharing group to enable parental consent.
- The Texas attorney general’s office has signaled it intends to appeal the judge’s blocking order.
- The source notes similar laws or proposals are anticipated in Utah and Louisiana next year.
What to watch next
- Whether the Texas attorney general’s office succeeds in an appeal and when any appellate court might lift the injunction.
- How courts handle constitutional claims about compelled data collection and First Amendment implications in state tech rules.
- The trajectory of related legislation in other states such as Utah and Louisiana and whether those measures face similar legal challenges.
Quick glossary
- Age assurance: Tech and processes used to estimate or confirm a user’s age to determine appropriate online access or consent requirements.
- Declared Age Range API: An application programming interface vendors can use to let users declare an age category for account setup, enabling age-based controls.
- Parental consent: A mechanism by which a parent or guardian authorizes a minor to access services, download apps, or make purchases.
- Family Sharing: A platform feature that groups accounts so a designated adult can manage purchases, subscriptions, and consent for minors.
Reader FAQ
Has Apple stopped all work on age-assurance features?
Apple said it will pause its Texas-specific rollout but that developer tools for age assurance remain available for testing and use.
Is the Texas law currently being enforced?
No. A federal judge blocked SB2420 from taking effect; the Texas attorney general’s office plans to appeal.
Would the law have required sharing age data with developers?
Yes. The law would have required app stores to share age data with developers, according to the source.
Will similar laws in other states take effect?
Not confirmed in the source.
After a federal judge on Tuesday blocked Texas from implementing a new age verification law for app stores, Apple announced it will pause previously announced plans for the state as…
Sources
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