{"id":1074,"date":"2026-07-07T05:29:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1074"},"modified":"2026-07-07T05:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:29:50","slug":"supreme-court-allows-texas-law-regulating-app-stores-to-stand-for-now-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1074","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court allows Texas law regulating app stores to stand for now : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-132201\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 1024;&#10;        --source-height: 683;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x683+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Spectators take photos with their smartphones during a World Cup match at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 23. The Supreme Court is allowing Texas to enforce a law that limits minors' access to app stores on mobile devices while lawsuits continue in the lower courts.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Spectators take photos with their smartphones during a World Cup match at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 23. The Supreme Court is allowing Texas to enforce a law that limits minors&#8217; access to app stores on mobile devices while lawsuits continue in the lower courts.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Paul Ellis\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Paul Ellis\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a Texas law prohibiting minors from downloading apps without their parent&#8217;s consent to go into effect.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple organizations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.keranews.org\/texas-news\/2025-10-16\/texas-lawsuit-app-store-age-law\" target=\"_blank\">had sued the state<\/a>, arguing that the law violates children&#8217;s freedom of speech. But in an unsigned, unexplained order, the high court allowed Texas to enforce the law as lawsuits continue in lower courts.<\/p>\n<p>Texas enacted its <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/TX\/bill\/SB2420\/2025?__cf_chl_tk=Ng00MOuE6MsiqUeCvsKSvPf.V40LQoCpYSKYGk9ipXA-1781561997-1.0.1.1-B9nfSUnjrzVKP75TNAj6Ewt8FLVtoiY4YCMuj_Uiemw\" target=\"_blank\">App Store Accountability Act<\/a> in 2025. The law requires app stores to verify all users&#8217; ages, and it prevents children under age 18 from downloading most apps without parental consent. Texas told a lower court that legislators enacted the law in order to keep minors from seeing &#8220;harmful&#8221; material.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5883978-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5876238\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/30\/nx-s1-5876238\/the-biggest-news-from-the-final-day-of-this-supreme-court-term\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/30\\\/nx-s1-5876238\\\/the-biggest-news-from-the-final-day-of-this-supreme-court-term&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F3b%2F7b631e724f0b8b65d8f63fc11c4a%2Fgettyimages-2273382281-3.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The U.S. Supreme Court\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5883978-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Challengers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25A1390\/413071\/20260610230907810_CCIA%20Emergency%20Application%20for%20Vacatur.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">argued<\/a> that such a broad law is plainly unconstitutional under a variety of Supreme Court precedents, holding that children do have substantial free speech rights.<\/p>\n<p>Texas responded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25A1390\/413782\/20260622150257159_25A1389%2025A1390%20Response%20to%20Applications.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">in its filings<\/a> that the law regulates only &#8220;commercial speech&#8221; and so is less constitutionally protected. Nonetheless, the law has only a few exceptions for apps made by emergency services and the companies that oversee college entrance exams. Children must get parental approval before downloading all other apps, such as Instagram, library apps, and the apps of news organizations.<\/p>\n<p>A lower court initially <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.txwd.1172869998\/gov.uscourts.txwd.1172869998.65.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">blocked the law<\/a> from going into effect, writing that the law &#8220;prohibits minors from participating in the democratic exchange of views online.&#8221; But in June, a panel of judges on the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10870213\/students-v-paxton\/pdf\/\" target=\"_blank\">reinstated the law<\/a>. On Monday, the Supreme Court left the law in place, at least for now. The law now returns to the lower courts for further litigation<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/politics\/2026\/02\/05\/utah-sued-by-google-and-apple-over-app-store-safety-law\/\" target=\"_blank\">Utah<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.route-fifty.com\/customer-experience\/2025\/07\/louisiana-becomes-third-state-pass-app-store-accountability-law\/406661\/\" target=\"_blank\">Louisiana<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alreporter.com\/2026\/02\/19\/gov-ivey-signs-app-store-accountability-act-into-law\/\" target=\"_blank\">Alabama<\/a> have passed similar laws.<\/p>\n<p>This is not the first time the Supreme Court has dealt with a law banning children from accessing content online. Last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/24pdf\/23-1122_3e04.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">the court upheld<\/a> a Texas law that requires pornographic websites to verify users&#8217; ages. But the court has long treated children&#8217;s access to pornography differently than other access questions.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>Monday&#8217;s app store ruling does not necessarily mean that the law is constitutional \u2014 only that the law can be enforced while lawsuits make their way through the lower courts. That said, the court&#8217;s refusal to intervene at this point is at least a tentative signal that favors the law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spectators take photos with their smartphones during a World Cup match at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 23. The Supreme Court is allowing Texas to enforce a law that limits minors&#8217; access to app stores on mobile devices while lawsuits continue in the lower courts. Paul Ellis\/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x576+0+54\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fa3%2F00474bdd499fbcf1b11f04af10f1%2Fgettyimages-2282428028.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}