BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 6. The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to block a Texas law requiring app stores and developers to verify the age of mobile device users and obtain parental consent before minors can download applications or make in-app purchases.
The justices rejected requests from challengers seeking to suspend a lower court ruling that allowed the law to take effect while litigation continues. The legal dispute centers on whether the measure violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech.
The lawsuit was filed by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include major technology companies such as Apple and Google, along with the student coalition Students Engaged in Advancing Texas and two individual students.
The case marks another legal battle over Texas' efforts to regulate children's access to online content. Last year, the Supreme Court also upheld a separate Texas law requiring age verification for pornographic websites, rejecting arguments that it infringed on First Amendment protections.
