Texas can now force app stores to verify users’ ages

The United States Supreme Court has given Texas the green light to enforce its App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), which requires Apple, Google and other platforms to verify users’ ages before allowing downloads and purchases. The law, championed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, requires stores to use “commercially reasonable” methods to check whether a user is under 18 and to obtain parental consent for certain content.The Supreme Court’s decision sets a precedent: states can force big tech companies to put age barriers on their app stores. Supporters of the law say it protects children from inappropriate content and gives parents tools to know what their children download. Apple, Google and digital rights groups appealed it, arguing that it would force millions of people to share personal data (such as their ID) just to use an app. They compare the situation to having to show an ID card to enter a bookstore.The battle is still open: the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear oral arguments on August 4. Meanwhile, the law is already in effect in Texas and could serve as a model for other states. For the average user, this means that in the future they might have to prove their age before downloading any app on their phone. A measure designed to protect minors, but which opens a necessary debate about how much privacy we are willing to give up in exchange.— Marta, for intermittent intelligence.