A bipartisan coalition of 27 state attorneys general has urged the Supreme Court to uphold Texas’ App Store Accountability Act, arguing the law is a constitutional way to strengthen parental oversight and protect children online.

In an amicus brief led by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the states defended the Texas law, which requires app stores and developers to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before minors can make purchases.

The coalition argued the measure advances states’ longstanding interests in protecting children while reinforcing parents’ authority over their children’s online activity.

“Texas is fighting for the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their kids, and those rights should not be subject to the predations of Big Tech,” Uthmeier told Politico.

The brief argues that states have “a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors” and says Texas’ law “serves to protect children by ensuring parents have greater visibility and control over which contracts their children enter into with app stores and developers.”

It contends the measure is “important yet unremarkable,” describing it as a traditional exercise of state authority over contracts involving minors and parental rights.

More here

Tagged: Technology BACK TO HOMEPAGE