Alabama Sued Over App Store Age Verification Law

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Wednesday in the United States.

The complaint was filed by the CCIA, a trade association that represents major app store operators and developers, and names Marshall as the defendant in his official capacity.

The lawsuit represents the latest legal challenge to a wave of state legislation requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors. The Alabama case is pending in the Middle District of Alabama, and no hearing date has been announced.

Law Requires Age Verification for App Downloads

The law sets a compliance timeline for existing accounts.

Supporters of the legislation, including Sells, have framed the measure as a child safety tool, while opponents contend it imposes broad data collection requirements on all users.

Similar Laws and Court Rulings

Alabama's law follows similar legislation in other states. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later allowed enforcement to proceed, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in July 2026, according to unsigned orders in SEAT v. Paxton and Computer and Communications Industry Association v.

The Texas case provides a template for the Alabama litigation. The Alabama law's unanimous passage in the Legislature contrasts with the contested nature of the Texas statute, though both measures share similar age verification and parental consent requirements.

The settlement was announced separately from the CCIA's lawsuit and does not resolve the constitutional challenge to Act No. 2026-59.

The trade group has consistently argued that age verification mandates imposed on app stores violate the First Amendment and impose burdens on interstate commerce.

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Law Before Effective Date

The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. No hearing date or ruling has been announced in the case.

The outcome of the Alabama litigation could be shaped by the Supreme Court's handling of the Texas law. The Alabama case represents the next test of whether such laws can survive First Amendment scrutiny in federal court.

The lawsuit names Marshall as the defendant in his official capacity as Alabama Attorney General. The case is assigned to the Middle District of Alabama, where it remains pending.