Apple pauses app store changes in Texas after court blocks age assurance law

In a significant legal development, Apple has decided to suspend its planned changes to the App Store in Texas after a federal judge intervened to block the enforcement of a new age verification law. This ruling, which occurred on Tuesday, has prompted the tech giant to reassess its approach while it observes the unfolding legal situation. The law in question, known as SB2420 or the App Store Accountability Act, aimed to enforce strict age verification measures for app stores operated by companies like Apple and Google. Under this legislation, app stores would have been required to authenticate the ages of their users and secure parental consent for individuals under 18 when downloading apps or making purchases. Furthermore, it mandated that age-related data be shared with application developers. Citing concerns related to the First Amendment, the judge blocked the law from taking effect in January, marking a notable victory for major technology companies and a setback for Texas lawmakers, who indicated plans to continue the legal battle. The Texas Attorney General's office has announced intentions to appeal the decision, highlighting the ongoing contention surrounding the legislation. In anticipation of the law's implementation, Apple had previously unveiled a series of new requirements for apps operating in Texas. These included mandatory participation in a Family Sharing group for all users under 18, where parents or guardians would need to grant consent for downloads, purchases, and in-app transactions. Additionally, parents would have the ability to withdraw their consent at any point. Apple also indicated that its Declared Age Range API, designed to assist in adhering to various age verification laws globally, would receive updates in the coming months to accommodate the required age classifications for new users in Texas. The company had also announced plans to introduce new APIs for developers, allowing them to seek parental consent again if their apps underwent significant updates. While Apple has voiced its support for enhancing online safety for children, it has raised objections to SB2420 and similar forthcoming legislation in Utah and Louisiana, citing concerns over user privacy. The company argued that the law would necessitate the collection of sensitive personal information merely to download apps, even for benign purposes like checking the weather. Despite the halt in Texas, Apple confirmed that its suite of developer tools intended to comply with age assurance laws will remain available for testing. This includes the Declared Age Range API, Significant Change API under PermissionKit, new age rating property types in StoreKit, and App Store Server Notifications. Notably, the Declared Age Range API continues to be accessible worldwide across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, and beyond.