⚖️ Texas' age verification law

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Apple Pushes Back on Texas Law

Apple is preparing to comply with Texas’s new age assurance law, SB 2420, which requires app stores to verify the ages of all users starting January 1, 2026. The company said it will confirm whether users are over 18 and require minors to join Family Sharing groups managed by parents, who must approve all app downloads and purchases. While Apple has the resources to build tools for compliance, smaller developers are struggling to keep up, with some—like social app Bluesky in Mississippi—already blocking users in certain states.

Privacy Concerns in the Name of Protection

In a message to developers, Apple warned that SB 2420 could harm user privacy by forcing the collection of sensitive personal data, even for simple tasks like checking the weather. The company plans to comply by introducing privacy-preserving APIs to help developers determine user age and manage parental consent. Apple’s response highlights a growing patchwork of state-level online safety laws in the absence of a federal standard, with similar rules set to take effect in Utah and Louisiana later this year.

The Startup Compliance Crunch

For startups, the Texas law is another sign that regulatory complexity is becoming a major business risk. While big tech can build compliance frameworks and legal teams, smaller developers face tough tradeoffs between privacy, access, and cost. Founders should view these laws as an early warning—user protection and verification standards are moving fast, and adapting early could become a competitive advantage as the digital trust economy takes shape.

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