MD AADC
Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (Commercial Law § 14-4601 et seq.)
Maryland design code modeled on UK approach: applies to covered online products reasonably likely to be accessed by minors. Pushes privacy-by-default, risk assessment, limits on "materially detrimental" data practices.
Jurisdiction
Maryland
Enacted
Pending
Effective
Oct 1, 2024
Enforcement
Maryland Attorney General
Why It Matters
First US AADC to survive initial legal challenge. NetChoice lawsuit motion to dismiss denied Nov 24, 2025; law remains in effect.
Recent Developments
NetChoice filed First Amendment challenge (Feb 2025). Motion to dismiss denied Nov 2025. Outcome will shape viability of other state AADCs.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Operators of covered online products reasonably likely to be accessed by minors (under 18) in Maryland
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Must consider minors' best interests in design and operation
- DPIA-style obligations for covered online products
- Restrictions on processing data in ways materially detrimental to minors' physical/mental health or wellbeing
- High privacy defaults; limits on collecting/using/sharing beyond necessity
- Limits on dark patterns / manipulative design
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Oct 1, 2024
All provisions took effect
Penalties
$8K/violation
View on map
Maryland
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Maryland. (2024). Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (Commercial Law § 14-4601 et seq.).
Related Regulations
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.
FL Companion AI Age Verification
Standalone bill requiring age verification for ALL users (adults and minors) before accessing companion AI chatbots. Requires user account creation, confidential age verification, notifications that user is interacting with AI, and specific actions when user is determined to be a minor including potential access blocking.
NE AADC
Nebraska design code blending privacy-by-design with engagement constraints (feeds, notifications, time limits) aimed at reducing compulsive use.
MD HB 952
Regulates companion chatbot operators with mandatory disclosures, harm detection, and crisis referral protocols for self-harm and suicidal ideation, backed by product liability and a private right of action.
IA SF 2417
Establishes requirements and guidelines for conversational AI services including AI disclosure to minors, prohibition on sexually explicit content for minors, prevention of deceptive human-like interactions, and parental controls for children under 13.
CO HB 1263
Imposes obligations on conversational AI service operators including minor-user protections, suicide and self-harm protocols, prohibition on emotional dependence and engagement gamification, and annual safeguard reporting.
Last updated February 17, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.