WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to begin enforcing a law requiring minors to obtain parental consent before downloading most mobile applications, denying requests to temporarily block the measure while constitutional challenges continue in lower courts.
The justices issued an unsigned order declining to halt enforcement of the Texas App Store Accountability Act, leaving in place a June ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that permitted the law to take effect.
Texas enacted the law in 2025 to require app stores to verify the age of all users. Under the measure, anyone younger than 18 must receive parental approval before downloading most applications or making in-app purchases.
Several organizations challenged the law, arguing that it violates minors’ First Amendment rights by restricting access to constitutionally protected speech, including educational, news and social media content.
A federal district court previously blocked the law, finding that it prevented minors from participating in the exchange of ideas online. The 5th Circuit later stayed that ruling, allowing Texas to enforce the law while the case proceeds.
In court filings, Texas argued that the law regulates commercial activity through app stores rather than protected speech. State attorneys also said lawmakers approved the measure to help shield minors from harmful online content.
The law exempts a limited number of applications, including those operated by emergency services and organizations that administer college entrance exams. Most other apps require parental consent before minors can download them.
The Supreme Court’s order does not determine whether the law is constitutional. Instead, it allows enforcement of the measure while the lower courts continue to consider the legal challenges.
Utah, Louisiana and Alabama have enacted similar app store laws.
The ruling follows the Supreme Court’s decision last year upholding a separate Texas law requiring age verification for users accessing pornographic websites. That case addressed online adult content rather than broader access to mobile applications.