Apple - Lawsuit
Executive Summary
Apple will require new users in Texas to verify they are over 18 starting June 4th, using a credit card or government ID, following a federal appeals court decision allowing the state's App Store Accountability Act to take effect. Users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group where parents or guardians approve app downloads and purchases. This affects anyone creating a new Apple account in Texas and follows similar age verification rollouts in Utah, Louisiana, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, ...
What Happened
Starting June 4th, 2026, Apple will require new users creating Apple accounts in Texas to verify they are over 18 years old using a credit card or government ID, following a federal appeals court decision allowing Texas' App Store Accountability Act to take effect. Users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group where parents or guardians approve app downloads and purchases. Apple may also automatically verify age using existing account data such as account age and payment methods on file.
Who Is Affected
Anyone creating a new Apple account in Texas is affected by the mandatory age verification requirement. Minors under 18 in Texas lose the ability to independently create accounts and download apps, now requiring parental supervision through Family Sharing. This follows similar age verification measures Apple has already implemented in Utah, Louisiana, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and the UK.
Why It Matters
This represents a significant expansion of government-mandated identity verification for basic digital services, requiring users to submit sensitive personal documents or financial information to access app stores. The precedent is spreading rapidly across multiple jurisdictions, and a federal version of the App Store Accountability Act is advancing through Congress that could impose nationwide age verification requirements. Such measures fundamentally alter the privacy landscape by eliminating anonymous or pseudonymous access to digital platforms and creating centralized databases of verified identity information.
What You Should Do
If you are in Texas and need to create a new Apple account, be aware you will need to provide a credit card or government-issued ID for age verification. Review Apple's data handling practices to understand how your verification documents will be stored and used. If you are under 18 or have children, set up Family Sharing with clear understanding of parental controls and approval processes. Consider the privacy implications of submitting government ID to technology companies before proceeding with account creation.
Summary generated from verified sources and reviewed before publication. How we summarize.