Federal Judge Blocks Texas Law Requiring Age Verification for App Downloads

A federal judge has blocked Texas from enforcing a law that would have required digital app stores to verify the age of every user before allowing app downloads. The preliminary injunction prevents the state from implementing Senate Bill 2420, known as the App Store Accountability Act, just days before it was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.



U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted the motion filed by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a trade group representing tech giants including Apple and Google. In his order, Judge Pitman ruled that the legislation likely violates the First Amendment by restricting access to a vast universe of speech. He characterized the act as being akin to a law that would "require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door" before allowing them to enter or make a purchase.


The law would have mandated that app marketplaces use commercially reasonable methods to verify the age of all users—adults included—and require parental consent for minors to download apps or make in-app purchases. The court found these requirements to be unconstitutionally overbroad, noting they would restrict access to benign apps promoting physical or mental health, news, and entertainment. The order specifically noted that under the law, minors would be cut off from apps like the Associated Press, Strava, and even dictionary apps, effectively prohibiting them from participating in the democratic exchange of views online.

Because the law regulates speech based on content, the court applied strict scrutiny, the highest standard of judicial review. Judge Pitman determined that Texas failed to prove the law was the least restrictive means of achieving its goal of protecting children. The ruling also highlighted significant vagueness in the statute, particularly regarding provisions that would hold developers liable for "material changes" to an app. The court agreed with arguments that this lack of clarity could lead to over-censorship, as app stores might revoke access broadly to avoid liability for something as simple as a new song being added to a music service.

This ruling halts significant changes Apple had been preparing for its platform in the region. In October, the company outlined new requirements for the App Store in Texas, warning that the mandate could compromise user privacy by requiring the collection of sensitive personal information. Apple subsequently released new developer tools and APIs designed to handle the age assurance process and parental consent flows. The company had previously stated that requiring every user to verify their age would force the collection of personally identifiable information that isn't currently gathered.

The judge's reasoning mirrors the argument Apple CEO Tim Cook brought to Washington just weeks ago. While lobbying against a similar federal bill, Cook reportedly warned lawmakers that forcing app stores to verify IDs would create a massive privacy risk. Instead of broad mandates, he pushed for a system that empowers parents to manage their children's accounts directly.


The preliminary injunction stops the Texas Attorney General from enforcing the law while the legal challenge continues in court. In granting the relief, the judge noted that the loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, creates an injury that cannot be undone.