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Enjoined Law Child Protection High Relevance

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

US-CA

Enacted

Sep 15, 2022

Effective

Unknown

Enforcement

California Attorney General (if not enjoined)

Blocked by injunction; litigation ongoing

Who Must Comply

This law applies to:

  • • Online services likely to be accessed by children

Who bears obligations:

Operator

Safety Provisions

  • • Data Protection Impact Assessments for child-likely services
  • • Privacy by default for children
  • • Restrictions on harmful design patterns
  • • Age assurance requirements

Enforcement

Enforced by

California Attorney General (if not enjoined)

Quick Facts

Binding
Yes
Mental Health Focus
No
Child Safety Focus
Yes
Algorithmic Scope
No

Why It Matters

Shows constitutional limits on US content-related regulation. UK equivalent (Age Appropriate Design Code) is enforceable; US version blocked.

Recent Developments

Repeatedly blocked by injunction (NetChoice v. Bonta). Court found DPIA requirements likely violate First Amendment.

Cite This

APA

California. (2022). California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act. Retrieved from https://nope.net/regs/us-ca-aadc

BibTeX

@misc{us_ca_aadc,
  title = {California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act},
  author = {California},
  year = {2022},
  url = {https://nope.net/regs/us-ca-aadc}
}

Related Regulations

In Effect US-CA • Child Protection

CA AB 489

Prohibits AI systems from using terms, letters, or phrases that falsely indicate or imply possession of a healthcare professional license.

Proposed US-CA • Child Protection

CA AI Child Safety Ballot

Comprehensive child AI safety ballot initiative by Common Sense Media. Expands companion chatbot definitions, raises age threshold for data sale consent, prohibits certain AI products for children, establishes new state regulatory structure. Allows state and private lawsuits, requires AI literacy in curriculum, mandates school device bans during instruction, creates children's AI safety fund.

Enacted US-VT • Child Protection

VT AADC

Vermont design code structured to be more litigation-resistant: focuses on data processing harms rather than content-based restrictions. AG rulemaking authority begins July 2025.

Enacted US-NY • AI Safety

NY RAISE Act

Requires large AI developers of frontier models operating in New York to create safety protocols, report critical incidents within 72 hours, conduct annual reviews, and undergo independent audits. Creates dedicated DFS office funded by developer fees.

Enacted US-CT • AI Safety

CT SB 1295

Creates COMPLETE BAN on targeted advertising to under-18s regardless of consent. Requires AI impact assessments. Connecticut issued first CTDPA fine ($85,000) in 2025.

Enacted US-CO • AI Safety

Colorado AI Act

First comprehensive US state law regulating high-risk AI systems. Modeled partly on EU AI Act with developer and deployer obligations for consequential decisions.

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