A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked a new state law that would have required Apple to verify the ages of all App Store users. The ruling came just days before the law was set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving Apple a short-term legal win.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction, pausing enforcement of the Texas App Store Accountability Act while the case moves forward.
What the Texas Law Sought to Do
The Texas law aimed to force Apple to confirm the age of every App Store user in the state. Lawmakers said the measure would protect minors from inappropriate content. The law also would have required parental consent for some app downloads.
However, Judge Pitman compared the rule to forcing bookstores to check the age of every customer before entry. He suggested the approach went too far and raised constitutional concerns.
Importantly, the ruling does not strike down the law entirely. Instead, it pauses enforcement until courts fully review its legality.
Industry Pushback and Free Speech Concerns
The lawsuit was filed by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represents Apple, Google, and Meta. The group argued that the law would create broad censorship across mobile apps.
According to the filing, the rule could limit teenagers’ access to lawful online content. It could also shift responsibility for content moderation from app developers to platform operators.
Apple previously warned that compliance would force it to collect sensitive personal data, including government-issued IDs, from all users. The company said this approach could increase privacy and security risks rather than reduce them.
Divided Reactions From Tech Companies
While Apple opposed the law, some social media firms supported it. Meta, Snap, and X publicly welcomed the measure. They argued that parents want a single system for age checks and permissions.
Still, critics noted that the law avoided addressing how social platforms manage content for young users. Instead, it placed the burden on app stores.
What Happens Next
Texas can appeal the ruling to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Given similar proposals in other states, legal experts expect the issue to return to court soon.
For now, Apple does not need to verify App Store user ages in Texas. However, the debate over child safety, privacy, and platform responsibility remains far from settled.
