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Texas enacts law requiring age verification with parental consent for app store users

Companies must build age-verification systems by January 1, 2026; Apple has warned of sensitive data collection, whereas Google has raised privacy objections.

Image
The Apple logo is displayed on the glass facade of an Apple Store, partially obscured by green foliage in the foreground, on May 20, 2025 in Chongqing, China.
Close up of young college students hands holding mobile phones. Teenagers addicted to smartphones and technology. Group of friends sharing content on social media. Technology concept.
Tim Cook called Texas Governor Greg Abbott to emphasise the company’s opposition.

Overview

  • Governor Greg Abbott signed the App Store Accountability Act on May 27, imposing new age-verification and parental consent requirements on Apple’s and Google’s app stores.
  • Under the law, every user’s age must be verified and minors require parental approval before downloading apps or making in-app purchases starting January 1, 2026.
  • Apple and Google have opposed the measures, arguing they will force the collection and storage of sensitive personal information from all users.
  • Meta, Snap and X supported the legislation as a means to centralize age checks in app stores and empower parents to control children’s smartphone usage.
  • Legal experts predict the law could face First Amendment challenges, and industry groups have proposed sharing age-range data only with high-risk apps instead of blanket verification.