Texas App Store Age Law Halted: US Judge Blocks Measure Meant to Protect Children

A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked a new state law aimed at protecting children from online harm. The law, set to take effect in January, required app stores and developers to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent for downloads and in-app purchases. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the measure likely violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment speech protections. The Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represents tech giants Apple and Google, had sued to stop the law. The association welcomed the ruling, saying it preserves the First Amendment rights of app stores, developers, and parents. The Texas attorney general's office did not comment on the decision. The ruling is a setback to Texas' efforts to regulate smartphone use by children and teenagers, part of a broader crackdown by some U.S. states to combat the potential harm of social media on young people. Australia recently became the first country to ban social media for children under 16. The judge acknowledged concerns about children's online safety but emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law.