Apple has decided to pause its planned changes to the App Store in Texas following a federal judge's decision to block a new age-verification law, citing First Amendment concerns. The law, known as the App Store Accountability Act, would have required app stores to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for users under 18, while also sharing age data with developers. Apple had announced new requirements for apps in Texas to comply with the law, including the use of Family Sharing groups for minors and updated APIs for developers. Despite the legal setback for Texas lawmakers, Apple continues to offer developer tools for age assurance, emphasizing privacy concerns over the collection of sensitive information. This matters because it highlights the ongoing tension between tech companies and lawmakers over privacy and user data protection.
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