United States of America: District Court issued preliminary injunction blocking the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420)

On 23 December 2025, the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Austin Division issued an order preventing enforcement of Texas’ App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), which was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. The law would have introduced age verification and parental consent requirements for app stores and developers. The order followed a December 16 hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal the same day. The lawsuits, filed in October 2025, were brought by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and, separately, by two students and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). The plaintiffs argued that the law could restrict speech and was unclear in its requirements. The Court raised concerns about several provisions, including the obligations for app stores and developers to implement age rating systems, requirements for parental consent for app downloads and in-app purchases, and duties to revoke access when app content changes. The Court found that SB 2420 constitutes content-based regulation and applied strict scrutiny, determining that the state had not demonstrated a compelling interest and that the law was not the least restrictive means to achieve its objective. Certain provisions were also found to be vague, including those relating to liability for misrepresenting age ratings and notifying of “significant change.”