The U.S. Supreme Court has chosen not to intervene in the enforcement of a Texas law that mandates app stores to verify users’ ages and secure parental consent for minors who wish to download apps or make in-app purchases. Justice Samuel Alito issued one-sentence orders denying appeals from those challenging the law’s constitutionality.

A recent ruling by a three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the law to come into effect. This decision reversed a district court ruling from December that found the law unconstitutional.

The challengers to this legislation include the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is involved as a defendant in these cases. The plaintiffs argue that the law improperly restricts access to First Amendment-protected content, such as news and educational materials.

“Equity and the public interest support relief because protecting First Amendment rights — and parents’ rights to supervise their children as they see fit, not as the government tells them they should — is always in the public interest,” stated attorneys for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas.

The Texas Attorney General’s office argues that the law is necessary to shield children from harmful products available through app stores. They emphasize the risks of minors downloading software without parental awareness, potentially jeopardizing privacy and allowing access to inappropriate content.