Texas may be in for a legal battle due to a new age verification law that was recently passed. The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed a lawsuit in response to the Texas App Store Accountability Act. They claim that the new order violates First Amendment rights. Amazon, Apple, and Google are members of the not-for profit trade association.
On New Year’s Day, the law will be in effect and require app store users verify their age prior to downloading apps or making purchases within the app. Users underage must get parental consent every time they want an app to download or make an in-app purchase. The suit also claims that developers are burdened with additional work, as they have to adapt their apps to different age groups. Stephanie Joyce, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff for the CCIA said in a CCIA press release.
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, a student advocacy organization, filed a similar suit with CCIA to object to Texas’ upcoming requirements for app stores. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is the firm that represents SEAT and two high school students who are named in the lawsuit. The firm said the law “violates the First Amendment by imposing sweeping restrictions on access to protected speech and information.” also noted the dangers associated when collecting personal information like government IDs for the purpose of verifying identity.
