WASHINGTON, DC (July 8, 2026) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), standing alongside a nationwide network of protective parents and child exploitation survivors, celebrated a definitive legal turning point in the fight for online safety. In a major blow to Silicon Valley, the U.S. Supreme Court flatly denied an emergency application by Big Tech trade associations to block enforcement of the Texas App Store Accountability Act (Computer & Communications Industry Association v. Ken Paxton, No. 25A1390).
Texas Senate Bill 2420, the App Store Accountability Act, requires massive digital marketplaces to implement robust age-verification, secure explicit parental consent before minors can download apps, and clearly display accurate content ratings. The Supreme Court’s order leaves in place a critical decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which intervened to let Texas enforce its common-sense app store safety measures while broader legal battles continue. This denial solidifies a monumental framework for state-led digital safety standards nationwide.
The Fifth Circuit’s decision stands, forcefully rejecting the industry’s demands for total immunity, focusing on the state’s urgent interest in protecting children from predatory online ecosystems.
NCOSE, which submitted amicus curiae briefs in December 2025 and May 2026 detailing how predatory app marketplace designs leave children highly vulnerable to grooming and commercial sexual exploitation, hailed the decision as a massive structural shift for families.
“For far too long, dominant tech platforms have operated with total impunity, acting as unchecked gatekeepers to digital marketplaces that actively expose children to severe harm,” said Haley McNamara, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
“By denying Big Tech’s attempt to escape accountability, the Supreme Court has sent a definitive message: corporate profits will no longer be prioritized over the safety and dignity of minors.
“This legislation is a common-sense, vital framework that requires massive platforms to implement robust, systemic safeguards rather than shifting the entire burden of digital safety onto exhausted parents. This victory proves that states possess both the authority and the moral obligation to regulate predatory digital environments. NCOSE was proud to support this effort through our amicus brief, and we will continue to ensure these critical protections are fully realized and enforced across the country.”
For more information or to schedule an interview, please email us at public@ncose.com.
About the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. NCOSE works through law, policy, and corporate advocacy to create a world where every person can live free from exploitation. Learn more at endsexualexploitation.org.
