Big Tech companies are raising significant challenges against Texas over its new age-verification law, alleging it resembles a censorship regime. The Texas App Store Accountability Act is set to come into effect on January 1, 2026, following similar legislation in Utah and Louisiana, which will be enforced in May and July of the same year, respectively.
Legal Challenges to the Texas Age-Verification Law
This new law is under intense scrutiny. A lawsuit has been initiated by a student advocacy group and two Texas minors. They argue that the law infringes on First Amendment rights. “The First Amendment does not permit the government to require teenagers to get their parents’ permission before accessing information,” stated attorney Ambika Kumar of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
The lawsuit claims that restricting adult access to information in the name of child protection is unconstitutional. This law enforces a prior restraint on protected speech, compromising the rights of both minors and adults.
Impact of the Law
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP highlighted the extensive reach of the Texas law. It does not only target social media platforms but also impacts a wide range of services:
- Educational applications, such as Coursera and Duolingo
- News outlets, including The New York Times and ESPN
- Creative content platforms like Netflix and YouTube
- Messaging services, including WhatsApp and Slack
- Publishing tools such as Substack and Medium
Previous Legal Precedents
Two lawsuits filed against the Texas law argue that it conflicts with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the 2011 case of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association. This decision invalidated a California law that sought to limit the sale of violent video games to minors.
The Court emphasized that a state’s responsibility to protect children does not grant it unrestricted authority to limit the ideas accessible to them. This ruling reinforces the ongoing debate about the balance between child protection and freedom of expression.
Ongoing Legal Landscape
The tech industry has previously contested multiple Texas laws concerning content moderation. In 2022, the Supreme Court intervened, blocking a law that prohibited large social media firms from moderating posts based on users’ viewpoints. Litigation related to that case remains active. Additionally, a separate Texas law mandating age verification on pornography sites was upheld by the Supreme Court in June 2025.
As the date for the Texas App Store Accountability Act approaches, the legal battles are expected to intensify, with implications for both the tech industry and the realm of free speech.
