Supreme Court Allows Texas To Require Age Verification For Mobile Apps (cnn.com)
- Reference: 0184334572
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/07/06/2144244/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-require-age-verification-for-mobile-apps
- Source link: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/06/politics/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-require-age-verification-for-mobile-apps
> "A minor child who downloads a software application from an app store agrees to contractual terms of service, including whether the child's location will be tracked, whether the child's privacy will be protected, whether information from the child's phone can be sold by the developer, and whether the child waives the right to sue," Texas told the Supreme Court in urging the court to allow its law to take effect.
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> But the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a trade group whose members include Apple and Google, said the law would effectively bar young people from accessing a wide range of content, "be it a book by Ernest Hemingway or J.K. Rowling, a Taylor Swift album, or a subscription to National Geographic." Allowing the law to take effect, the group said, would have "profound consequences for the protection of digital speech."
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> [...] In the new case, involving Texas' age verification for apps, a federal district court blocked the law's enforcement [2]in December -- days before it was set to take effect. But a three-judge panel of the conservative 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals put that decision on hold in early June, allowing the state to enforce it. By declining to take up the emergency appeal from the computer and student groups, the Supreme Court has left the 5th Circuit's decision in place.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/06/politics/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-require-age-verification-for-mobile-apps
[2] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/12/23/2235204/judge-blocks-texas-app-store-age-verification-law
How awful (Score:2)
Why would Biden do this?
Re: How awful (Score:2)
Autopen?
wow (Score:2, Funny)
It's almost like these features already existed as long as parents bothered to set them up. But Texas people tend to be, on average, retarded.
This isn't Texas (Score:3, Interesting)
Every single state in the Union is passing these laws because larger companies and bigger billionaires bordering on trillionaires are pushing for them.
I warned about this sometime ago that the ruling elite were not going to sit idle while the plebs had a giant platform to organize and speak out on. The only reason they let us have the internet in the first place is because they didn't understand it. It's been over 30 years and they get it now. And they are taking it away from us.
Your Fox News loving
Dude you've got Google right there (Score:2)
There are lots and lots and lots of studies about this.
But what the hell here's one, [1]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/a... [nih.gov]
Basically right wing thinking is a neurological problem. The study says conservative thinking but if you actually read the study the thought patterns they're talking about aren't conservative they are right wing, but the right wing has long since branded the word conservative to mean right wing so the study uses the word like that...
So basically about 30% of the human race is pro
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5793824/
Re: (Score:2)
> Every single state in the Union is passing these laws because larger companies and bigger billionaires bordering on trillionaires are pushing for them.
Doesn't even matter because so far, none of the state laws are actually enforceable and all of them are easily bypassed. For example, Colorado proposes age attestation for all computing devices. And that's never going to happen even if it's passed. The law cannot force Linux to abide by it, nor can they come after Linux. Governments can't even keep up with piracy and you think they are capable of enforcing this shit in a meaningful manner? Lmao, no.
The legislature doesn't understand anything about what they
Texas being Texas (Score:4, Insightful)
The only state where I'm free to do whatever I want as long as the government says I can do it first.
P.S. Yes I live here.
There is a real issue there (Score:3)
"A minor child who downloads a software application from an app store agrees to contractual terms of service, "
Which a minor cannot, legally, do. Without the parent agreeing to the terms, there's no enforceable contract.
The counterpoint is, of course, the impossibility of verifying anyone's age online without pissing off a lot of people who really shouldn't be on the internet to begin with.
No good answers, or even good questions.
Re: (Score:1)
> "A minor child who downloads a software application from an app store agrees to contractual terms of service, "
> Which a minor cannot, legally, do. Without the parent agreeing to the terms, there's no enforceable contract.
> The counterpoint is, of course, the impossibility of verifying anyone's age online without pissing off a lot of people who really shouldn't be on the internet to begin with.
> No good answers, or even good questions.
Agree, the bigger issue is we are past the point we need a good way to verify who you are on the Internet. As it's not like in physical world we don't have all kinds of products that are age limited and/or require ID to get access to them. Try doing almost anything important other than vote without an ID, like check into a hotel, rent a car, open a bank account, get a job, rent an apartment, buy alcohol, enter a federal building, board a plane, etc. Nothing wrong with anonymous for some stuff, but it wou
Just use cash and eliminate that problem (Score:2)
They can't steal from your bank account if you don't have a bank account.
Re: (Score:3)
"it would actually be useful to have a good secure way to verify to my bank for example that I'm actually the person accessing my banking account"
We have one. Its called passwords with 2 factor identification. It works and has for years and decades.
Is it perfect? No. Is the overly complicated and privacy invasive system that people are proposing likely to be better? No.
Do the two Factor over an app (Score:1)
Instead of using your cell phone. That's 95% secure as long as you don't fall for social engineering. Which admittedly is a huge problem as people age and their brains turn to mush, happens to all of us if we live long enough.
If for some reason you want to close the gap on that 5% you would need a physical key though. These would probably be a good idea for the elderly as well because you could have it set up so there is only one which would make over the internet scams extremely difficult.
And of co
Re: (Score:2)
Finally, a few intelligent comments. Funny how "won't anyone think of the kids" doesn't work here. Why is that?
Society universally agrees that children are deserving and in need of special protections, yet the other side of that coin is special limitations, kids don't have full rights of adults. Technology doesn't invalidate basic needs, children are not adults.
Also:
'...the law would effectively bar young people from accessing a wide range of content, "be it a book by Ernest Hemingway or J.K. Rowling, a
Re: (Score:2)
It's almost as if the rush to monetize the internet caused the free market to focus on the wrong problems to the detriment of society. Fortunately, that definitely won't happen with AI. Fortunately we have geniuses like Zuckerberg, Musk and Andreeson to protect us.
Why anyone thinks anonymity is the principal requirement of the internet is beyond me, it's exactly backwards. The ability to verify who you are should be fundamental.
Before electronic communications there was mail fraud. Difference was back t
Re: (Score:2)
> The ability to verify who you are should be fundamental.
If I wanted to be identified I'd cryptographically sign my emails...
I'm not sure that it should be necessary to identify myself to buy a candy bar or download the latest version of pokemon. Pikachu I spy you!
Freedom: The freedom to identify yourself when you want to or the freedom to force someone else to identify themselves even when they don't want to. Or the freedom to force users to "sign" a click-wrap agreement, effectively writing your o
Texas hates the Bible (Score:2)
They want your children to burn in hell for all, so they're preventing them from downloading the bible app and the ten commandments. So please, Texas, get rid of your anti-Christrian "leaders" and find some that will allow your children to know the Blessings of God. /probably not serious
Re: (Score:2)
Texas hates YOUR Bible, Ken Paxton's Bible is OK.
Has Texas even had a straight governor since George W? The answer is no.
Re:Texas hates the Bible (Score:4, Funny)
"This is because Texas is what anthropologists call an oral culture. That means Texans don't read much." --Molly Ivins
Wrong argument (Score:4, Insightful)
It was entirely the wrong argument. The question is not whether youth are barred from accessing content, (without parental supervision.). The question is that all adults are barred from accessing content without providing papers to untrusted entities.
Yall voted for this (Score:1)
Absolutely no bitching.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
> Absolutely no bitching.
Exactly. My brother-in-law was on a tirade about government overreach at our July 4th festivities. He didn't believe me until I showed him a FOX NEWS article that his president OrangeMan created said law.
I said "Brother, you voted for this. You have to live with it."
Parent's phone gets dialog to approve .... (Score:2)
> I said "Brother, you voted for this. You have to live with it."
Kid wants to play sports, parent has to sign a permission slip.
Kid want to go on school trip to museum, parent has to sign a permission slip.
School nurse wants to give kid an aspirin, parent gets a phone call to OK it.
Kid want to download app from App Store, parent's phone gets a dialog asking for approval.
Where is the great injustice here?
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like you agree it's a decision for the parents. Why is the government getting involved then?
Re: (Score:3)
It's interstate commerce. This should be a federal not state thing, but then again, you Klanturds hate the Constitution as you've proven over and over again...
Re: (Score:2)
> It's interstate commerce. This should be a federal not state thing,
"Could", not "Should". Unless the feds enact some similar legislation the door seems open to the states. States are allowed to regulate business activity within their borders when not in conflict with the feds, when not trying to discriminate against out of state companies, when there is not an undue burden, etc.
The law seems Texas only. The law is not trying to give Texas companies an advantage, The solution could be a parent gets a notice on their phone to approve. That might pass scrutiny?
Re: (Score:2)
Federal law already exists: COPPA, 16 CFR Part 312. This TX disgrace is in conflict, but the KlanTrash TreasonSix on SCOTUS don't care about the Constitution.
Re: (Score:2)
> but the KlanTrash TreasonSix on SCOTUS don't care about the Constitution.
Just who the hell do they think they are? California?
Re: (Score:2)
> Federal law already exists: COPPA, 16 CFR Part 312.
But the fed and state regs don't seem to overlap? The fed is about collecting data, the state is about downloading apps.
Perhaps I missed something but the statute begins with:
" 312.1 Scope of regulations in this part.
This part implements the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501, et seq.), which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with the collection, use, and/or disclosure of personal information from and about children on the internet."
Re: (Score:2)
> Sounds like you agree it's a decision for the parents. Why is the government getting involved then?
Apologies for not being detailed enough, but I was thinking pubic school permissions slops and public school nurse. That's government too.
Re: (Score:2)
Now correct me if I'm wrong as a mere Canadian and not 100% sure but if he dies doesn't that mean the (D) KY governor gets to appointment a replacement for what would have been his remaining term? Not wishing his death, obviously, just wondering what happens in that event?
Re: (Score:3)
> Where is the great injustice here?
None of your examples involved age checking adults to make sure they're not kids. That's precisely the problem.
Re: (Score:2)
>> Where is the great injustice here?
> None of your examples involved age checking adults to make sure they're not kids. That's precisely the problem.
Actually, when you register at school you have to show ID which includes age. I was originally thinking high school but let's try college. If I'm 17 years old when in college and want to play sports I'll need a parental approval. If I'm 18 I will not. Registering for college including providing ID with a birth date. I walk into the military recruiter, they will want to see ID with age, if I am 17 I need a parent's permission to enlist, if 18 I do not. Want to buy alcohol, adults can be ID checked. So having
Re: (Score:2)
> Want to buy alcohol, adults can be ID checked. So having an adult document that they are an adult is not an unheard of thing.
When you buy alcohol in a shop, the cashier ID check won't form a centralized purchase record database for hackers to exploit. Online age check as of today all eagerly create such database, with your ID tied to all major social platform online speech.
Re: (Score:2)
>> Want to buy alcohol, adults can be ID checked. So having an adult document that they are an adult is not an unheard of thing.
> When you buy alcohol in a shop, the cashier ID check won't form a centralized purchase record database for hackers to exploit.
Using your store rewards card will get you into an online database.
> Online age check as of today all eagerly create such database, with your ID tied to all major social platform online speech.
And the Apple App stores and the Google play store already have your age information. So Texas is requiring them to check something they already have?
Re: (Score:2)
> parent has to sign a permission slip.
Back in the day, I was pretty good at forging my parents signatures. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Re: (Score:2)
>> parent has to sign a permission slip.
> Back in the day, I was pretty good at forging my parents signatures. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
My cousin's kids know Mom's email account password. So when the email with the approval link arrives ....
To be fair, they know that if Mom finds out they OK'd something she would not approve of, the repercussions won't be worth it. Parent's giving kids some flexibility, but holding them accountable for bad moves. What a concept.
Re: (Score:2)
> To be fair, they know that if Mom finds out they OK'd something she would not approve of, the repercussions won't be worth it.
But just telling a kid "No mobile app. No social media account." doesn't carry the same weight?
To be fair, if you are the only parent saying "No" then it's tough to take that stand. But it's the school or the state making the rules for everyone. So you can just tell your kid, "Sorry. It's the weekend. I'll pop by juvenile hall and bail you out on Monday."
Re: (Score:2)
Just dl what you want from the web and side load it with adb.