Statement on the Signing of California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14, 2022— California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law today a much anticipated bipartisan bill to strengthen online privacy protections for kids across the state, a longtime priority for Common Sense Media. The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act will establish the highest default privacy settings for users under the age of 18 years old, among other protections. Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, issued the following statement after the signing.
"Today's decision by Governor Gavin Newsom to sign California's Age Appropriate Design Code Act puts the state at the forefront of a movement to prioritize kids' privacy on online platforms. We applaud Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Jordan Cunningham for leading this effort and Governor Newsom for standing up to the Big Tech companies in the state by signing AB 2273 into law.
"Every day kids navigate the online world and are faced with manipulative designs and addictive features that we attempted to ban earlier this year through AB 2408. However, AB 2273 is a necessary and positive step forward in standing up to Big Tech and denouncing their harmful tactics. We recognize that this bill is just one step in a long-term effort to protect kids online. But it is a very important step, and time is of the essence—we must continue the momentum to expand platform accountability and online protections for children across California and the rest of the country. We look forward to working directly with legislators and families next year on policies that will create a safer and healthier experience for kids online."
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About Common Sense
Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.
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