California Passes Stringent Kids' Privacy Rules

Continuing its push as the nation's first-mover on privacy, California has passed a bill that will require potentially significant new privacy commitments from online services that are "likely to be accessed" by children under 18. Covered companies have until July 2024, when the law takes effect, to assess their practices and come into compliance. In addition, implementing regulations due in January 2024 will give specifics on compliance.

Why It Matters

Because of the nature of online business -- accessible everywhere -- the new law from California is likely to become the de facto US standard for many online offerings. The law's coverage is much broader than the existing federal online privacy law protecting children (COPPA), which applies only to online offerings "directed to" children, and only children under 13.