The move puts the state at the center of a debate over whether and how to regulate smartphone use by children and teenagers.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas App Store Accountability Act, which is set to take effect at the beginning of next year. The new law, which purports to be about improving child safety online, has significant implications for user privacy and data security.

Texas will now require age verification for use of the iOS App Store, thanks to the state's App Store Accountability Act, which was passed against Apple's wishes.