Skip to main content
Starting January 1, 2026, Texas’s SB2420 takes effect, with Utah (May 7, 2026) and Louisiana (July 1, 2026) following. These laws require app store operators to verify user age and obtain parental consent for any app download or in-app purchase by a minor (under 18). Their purpose is to prevent unauthorized transactions by minors and ensure age-appropriate access to digital content. SB2420 does not expand or go beyond COPPA; these are two separate regulations. SB2420 governs transactions by users under 18, while COPPA governs data collection from users under 13. SB2420 may trigger COPPA obligations because it can create conditions that activate COPPA requirements. Appcharge does not verify player ages. Each game publisher is responsible for:
  • Verifying player age during account creation
  • Linking any minor’s account to a verified parent or guardian account
Based on the age category and parental-consent status stored in the publisher’s system, the publisher must allow or deny that user access to the Appcharge webstore and checkout. Appcharge enables compliance by blocking prohibited users before any data is collected.

​
Data Use and Privacy

Any personal data collected for age verification or parental consent must remain entirely within the publisher’s systems. Appcharge shall not know user ages, and publishers may not share this information with Appcharge. Appcharge relies solely on the publisher’s verification and access-control mechanisms. When the publisher allows a player to enter the webstore or redirects the player to Appcharge Checkout, the publisher represents that only users who are permitted to transact are being sent.

​
References