Computer & Communications Industry Association

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to enforce a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors downloading apps or making in-app purchases. The law, the Texas App Store Accountability Act, was upheld by a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling after a district court had initially deemed it unconstitutional. Plaintiffs, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, argued the law violates First Amendment rights, while Texas officials claimed it protects children from harmful digital content.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block Texas from enforcing a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors. The decision allows the Texas App Store Accountability Act to proceed, with plaintiffs including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas challenging its constitutionality. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is a defendant in the cases.

The Supreme Court refused to block Texas' age verification law for app downloads, which requires minors under 18 to obtain parental consent. A coalition of students and the Computer & Communications Industry Association argued the law violates the First Amendment by restricting access to online content, but their emergency appeals were denied.

Texas students, including M.F. and Z.B., have petitioned the Supreme Court to block Texas' App Store Accountability Act, which mandates age verification for app downloads and parental consent for minors under 18. They argue the law disproportionately restricts access to non-harmful content like educational apps, violating the First Amendment. The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) supports the challenge, comparing the law to overreaching age verification requirements for physical businesses.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the company violates the state’s 2024 social media law by failing to require parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds and allowing children under 13 to access apps with addictive features. The lawsuit claims TikTok misrepresents the frequency of mature content on its platform, which includes drugs, nudity, and profanity, and accuses the app of enabling easy access to such material for minors.