Covered platforms: age restriction: e-Safety Advisory Commission

The law requires age checks and youth-safe platform design for services built around personalized feeds or autoplay. It also creates an advisory commission to guide the state on online child safety.

What the law does ​

• Prohibits covered platforms from providing users under 16 with addictive feeds, autoplay, and other features designated by regulation.
• Requires reasonable measures to keep addictive features from users under 16 and age verification before providing those features.
• Requires deletion of under-16 users’ accounts and associated personal information, unless the platform allows them to keep an account without addictive features.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to issue implementing regulations, including adjusting which services qualify as covered platforms.
• Allows only the Attorney General or local public prosecutors to enforce the law, with penalties up to $50,000 per affected minor for knowing violations and $25,000 for negligent violations.
• Establishes a seven-member e-Safety Advisory Commission within the Department of Justice for administrative purposes to advise state government and annually report to the Governor and Legislature.

Who it affects ​

• Online websites, services, applications, and social media platforms for which addictive features are a significant part of the service.
• California users under 16, including those seeking to create or maintain platform accounts.
• Platform operators, the Attorney General, local public prosecutors, and e-Safety Advisory Commission members.