The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to intervene in blocking a Texas law that mandates app stores verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors who wish to download apps or make in-app purchases on mobile devices. Justice Samuel Alito issued one-sentence orders rejecting the petitions from plaintiffs who argue the Texas App Store Accountability Act infringes on constitutional free speech rights.
Last month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the law to take effect, overturning a lower court’s decision that deemed the law unconstitutional. The plaintiffs, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, are challenging the law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is named as a defendant in these cases.
The groups opposing the law claim it unlawfully restricts access to First Amendment-protected content, such as news and educational materials. They argue that First Amendment rights and parental control over their children’s digital interactions should be upheld in the public interest. Attorneys for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas emphasized the significance of these rights in their legal filings.
Representing the state, lawyers from Paxton’s office argue that the law aims to shield children from potentially harmful digital content. They highlight the risk of children downloading diverse applications, potentially agreeing to privacy invasions and data sales without any parental awareness. The law seeks to ensure parental consent and oversight for app store interactions involving minors.
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