Fifth Circuit Allows Texas App Store Age Law to Proceed

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an administrative stay blocking a lower court injunction and allowing Texas Senate Bill 2420, also known as the App Store Accountability Act, to go into effect. The law requires app marketplace operators to verify user ages and obtain parental consent before minors under 18 can download apps or make in-app purchases. It also mandates that developers categorize software into four age groups.

Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, successfully appealed a December 2025 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, who had previously blocked the law on the grounds that it likely violated the First Amendment. Governor Greg Abbott had originally signed the legislation in May 2025. In response to the appeals court decision, Apple announced it would apply these age assurance requirements to new accounts in Texas starting June 4, 2026.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas continue to challenge the law, arguing that it restricts free speech and denies students access to information. While the administrative stay allows the state to move forward with enforcement, the underlying legal challenges regarding the constitutionality of the mandate remain ongoing.