According to CNET, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law that would have forced app stores like those from Apple and Google to implement strict age verification starting January 1, 2026. US District Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed in October by the Computer & Communication Industry Association (CCIA), which represents companies including Apple, Google, Nintendo, and Steam. The judge found Senate Bill 2420, also known as the Texas App Store Accountability Act, to be broad, vague, and “more likely than not unconstitutional.” The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in May, would have required minors under 18 to have a parent-linked account to download apps, aiming to give parents “common sense tools” according to its author, State Senator Angela Paxton.
Why this law was so broad
Here’s the thing: this wasn’t just about the Apple App Store or Google Play. The language in Texas Senate Bill 2420 was incredibly sweeping. It defined an “app store” as any website or service that distributes apps to a mobile device. Basically, that could have pulled in websites hosting browser games, or even the digital storefronts on consoles like the Nintendo Switch. And “mobile device” included not just phones and tablets, but any wireless handheld gadget. That’s a huge net to cast, and it’s a big part of why the judge found it problematic. When a law is that vague about who it applies to, it creates a legal minefield for anyone trying to comply.
The free speech hurdle
So why is it “likely unconstitutional”? The core argument from the CCIA, which you can read in their filed complaint, is that it restricts First Amendment rights. App stores and developers argue that distributing software is a form of speech. By imposing a heavy age-gating mechanism on *all* apps—not just adult content—the law places a burden on that speech. Judge Pitman’s order seems to agree with that logic for now. It’s a different beast from laws targeting purely adult websites, which the Supreme Court upheld for Texas earlier in 2025. Applying those rules to the entire app ecosystem is a much bigger leap.
The broader push for age checks
Look, this Texas law isn’t happening in a vacuum. There’s a global trend of governments trying to legislate child safety online, often through age verification. Australia started restricting social media access for under-16s in December 2024. The UK has its own rules for adult sites. And companies like Roblox have rolled out stricter checks after legal pressure. But there’s a massive tension here. How do you verify age at scale without collecting tons of sensitive personal data, creating friction for everyone, and breaking the internet’s fundamental openness? The tech industry’s stance, as seen in the CCIA’s statement, is that parents should use the “myriad tools” already provided, not government-mandated one-size-fits-all gates. It’s a classic clash between protective intent and practical, constitutional execution.
What happens next?
Now the case moves forward. The injunction is just a preliminary hold, not a final ruling. The state will likely argue its case, pointing to the compelling interest of protecting kids. But the judge has already signaled serious doubts. And they aren’t the only plaintiffs; as The Texas Tribune notes, the advocacy group Students Engaged in Advancing Texas also sued (their case is here). This sets up a major legal battle that could influence similar laws in other states. If Texas’s approach gets struck down for being too broad, other legislatures will have to craft much narrower bills. For now, app stores, developers, and parents in Texas get a reprieve from a law that, however well-intentioned, seemed destined for a constitutional collision.
