On December 23, 2025 (local time), a federal judge in Texas, U.S., issued a preliminary injunction to halt the implementation of the Mobile App Store Accountability Act (SB2420). This act was scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The judge pointed out that the bill, which mandates age verification for all users and requires parental consent for minors to download apps, is highly likely to infringe upon the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It imposes undue restrictions on freedom of speech, a cornerstone of American democratic values.

This injunction was the result of a lawsuit brought by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA). The CCIA counts tech giants like Apple and Google (part of Alphabet Inc.) among its members. Apple expressed that while it supports efforts to enhance online protections for minors, the bill's requirement for all users to provide sensitive personal information would seriously compromise user privacy.

At present, the court will move on to the next phase of deliberation. The focus will be on determining whether the law is "facially unconstitutional," meaning it is unconstitutional on its face and in all its applications.