Home / Technology / Judge Halts Texas Age Verification for App Stores
Judge Halts Texas Age Verification for App Stores
24 Dec
Summary
- A judge blocked Texas's new law requiring age verification for app stores.
- Apple has paused its previously announced plans for Texas.
- The law cited First Amendment concerns and concerns over user privacy.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, blocking Texas from enforcing its new age verification law for app stores. Apple announced it would pause its plans for the state, which were designed to comply with the law that was set to take effect in January.
The blocked law, SB2420, would have mandated that app stores like those operated by Apple and Google verify user ages and secure parental consent for individuals under 18. This ruling is a victory for major tech companies and a blow to Texas legislators, who have stated their intention to appeal the decision.
Apple had previously expressed concerns, not about child protection, but about user privacy, arguing the law required the collection of sensitive personal information for all app downloads. The company's pause allows it to monitor the ongoing legal proceedings as the case progresses.
