CA AADC
California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act
Would require child-focused risk assessments (DPIA-style), safer defaults, and limits on harmful design patterns. Currently blocked on First Amendment grounds.
Jurisdiction
California
Enacted
Sep 15, 2022
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
California Attorney General (if not enjoined)
Enjoined since September 2023; full injunction granted March 13, 2025; the Ninth Circuit heard argument on January 14, 2026 and no decision had issued as of September 13, 2026. Superseded by statute: AB 2246, Chapter 187, Statutes of 2026, signed September 10, 2026, repeals Civil Code Title 1.81.47 (commencing with Section 1798.99.28), the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, and re-enacts a replacement chapter in its place. The replacement takes effect January 1, 2027 and is tracked separately as us-ca-ab2246. This row records the 2022 act (AB 2273) and its litigation history.
CA LegislatureWhy It Matters
Shows constitutional limits on US content-related regulation. UK equivalent (Age Appropriate Design Code) is enforceable; US version blocked.
Recent Developments
Repealed and replaced by AB 2246, Chapter 187, Statutes of 2026, signed September 10, 2026. The replacement drops the data protection impact assessment requirement that the district court found likely unconstitutional as compelled speech, removes the exceptions to the data-collection prohibitions, adds a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent specified harms to children including severe psychological harm, lets children void contracts entered through manipulative design features, and states that it creates no private right of action. Enforcement stays with the Attorney General and public prosecutors, at up to $5,000 per affected child for a negligent violation and $15,000 for an intentional one. The Ninth Circuit appeal concerns the 2022 act and was still pending when the replacement was signed.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Online services likely to be accessed by children
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Data Protection Impact Assessments for child-likely services
- Privacy by default for children
- Restrictions on harmful design patterns
- Age assurance requirements
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
$8K/violation
View on map
California
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
California. (2022). California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act.
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CA AB 1709
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Last updated September 13, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.