A preliminary injunction has been granted by Federal Judge Robert Pitman regarding the Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), preventing its enforcement pending further legal proceedings. This decision highlights significant constitutional concerns, as Judge Pitman noted that the law may likely violate the First Amendment.
Apple had recently made efforts to comply with SB 2420 by releasing several API and sandbox tools for developers. The law mandates platforms like the App Store to verify users' ages before they can download apps or access paid content, a responsibility Apple has been hesitant to undertake. In a blog post, Apple announced it would pause its implementation plans while monitoring the ongoing legal developments.
This injunction follows Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent meetings in Washington to address privacy issues related to the proposed law. The Computer & Communications Industry Association, which includes major companies like Amazon and Google, filed the motion that led to this ruling. Despite the injunction, Texas cannot enforce the law during the lawsuit, leaving the future of SB 2420 uncertain.