A federal court ruling has stalled Texas’ effort to impose age verification and parental consent requirements on app stores, but the broader fight over children’s online access is far from over. According to POLITICO, the decision has intensified a national clash that is increasingly tied to artificial intelligence, free speech and the power of Big Tech, a conflict many expect to land before the Supreme Court.
On December 23, a federal judge paused a Texas law that would have required app stores to verify users’ ages and secure parental approval for purchases, citing likely violations of the First Amendment.
The ruling marked a significant win for Silicon Valley companies, but it has not slowed similar efforts in Republican-led states such as Utah and Louisiana, where lawmakers and conservative parent advocacy groups continue to push comparable laws.
Supporters of the app-store model argue it protects children from harmful content and unchecked data use, especially as AI tools expand.
POLITICO reports that Apple and Google warn such measures create sweeping legal liability and privacy risks. Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian pointed to a December letter to Congress cautioning that these rules could force “millions of adults to surrender their private information for the simple act of downloading an app.” Google declined to comment.
Not all states are following Texas’ lead, as California has adopted a different framework that places responsibility on device manufacturers rather than app stores, an approach that has drawn less resistance from the tech lobby and is now being considered elsewhere, including Ohio.
Meanwhile, the debate is moving beyond statehouses. A GOP-backed bill modeled on Texas’ law is advancing in Congress, and additional states such as Michigan and South Carolina are weighing action. Both supporters and critics agree the legal questions remain unsettled.
