Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed its reply brief today in its effort to block Texas’s unconstitutional mobile app store law from taking effect January 1, 2026. CCIA is asking the court to grant a preliminary injunction until its full case against the Act can be heard.
Last month, CCIA sued the State of Texas over SB2420, also known as the App Store Accountability Act, which 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 anyone who wants to use an app store to submit information to an age-verification process. The law prohibits users “determine[d]” to be under 18 years of age 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 could not access app store content. The law would also compel speech by requiring app developers to “age-rate” their content into several subcategories, with detailed explanations, and to 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 the Deputy Director of the CCIA Litigation Center, Burke Kappler:
“Our filing conclusively shows that the court should prevent this law from taking effect due to its wide-ranging restrictions on the expressive speech of adults and minors, along with app stores and app developers. Texas is unable to demonstrate, legally or factually, why this law passes constitutional muster.”
