Apple announced this week that apps distributed in Texas must now comply with state law SB 2420, a measure requiring age verification and parental consent for minors using the App Store. According to a report by Engadget, the change takes effect Thursday and applies to any app distributed in the state.
New Apple Accounts created in Texas will be subject to the law. When a minor attempts to download an app, a significant update, or make an in-app purchase, a parent or guardian will need to provide consent. Developers are also required to support the ability for parents or guardians to revoke that consent at any time.
The Texas law was signed last May. Legal challenges pushed back its originally planned effective date of January 1, but those delays have now run their course.
Apple has been building out the infrastructure for geography-specific age requirements for some time. The company began requiring age verification for iCloud accounts in the United Kingdom in March, giving it a framework to apply similar rules in other places.
Texas is part of a broader wave of state-level legislation targeting minors' use of apps and digital platforms. The changes place new responsibilities on both Apple and the developers whose apps are distributed through the App Store in the state.
