Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association has sued the State of Texas in federal court over its unconstitutional mobile app store law, SB2420. This law, which would take effect January 1, 2026, imposes a sweeping age-verification, parental consent, and compelled speech regime on both app stores and app developers in violation of the First Amendment.
The law would require all persons who presently hold or wish to hold an account with an app store to submit to a burdensome and privacy-invasive age-verification process. If the app store “determines” that the user is under 18 years of age, the law prohibits them from downloading virtually all apps and software programs and from making any in-app purchases unless their parent consents and is given control over the minor’s account. Minors who are unable to link their accounts with a parent’s or guardian’s, or who do not receive permission, would be prohibited from accessing app store content.
The law would also regulate app developers by requiring them to “age-rate” their content into several subcategories and explain their decision in detail. Developers must also notify app stores in writing every time they improve or modify the functions, features, or user experience of their apps.
CCIA has fought for First Amendment rights for businesses, consumers and internet users for more than 25 years. For more information on this lawsuit, please see our Fact Sheet.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Director of CCIA Litigation Center Stephanie Joyce:
“We support online protections for younger internet users, and those protections should not come at the expense of free expression and personal privacy. This Texas law violates the First Amendment by restricting app stores from offering lawful content, preventing users from seeing that content, and compelling app developers to speak of their offerings in a way pleasing to the state. That is why we are asking the court to strike down this law and to block it from being enforced while we demonstrate how severely it violates the U.S. Constitution.
“In addition to the constitutional problems, this law places burdens on app stores, developers, minors, and parents that are completely disproportionate to any harm policymakers were attempting to remedy.”
