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AB-2426 • 2026

Online platforms: educational children’s content.

Online platforms: educational children’s content.

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Wallis
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Privacy and Consumer Protection
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers but reached final enrollment; however, a later action note mentions a hearing was canceled at the author's request. The effective date is currently unknown.

California Children's Digital Educational Content Act

This proposed law requires certain online platforms to create a special, ad-free section called a 'walled garden' for educational content that children can access without an account.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires covered platforms to establish and maintain a walled garden dedicated exclusively to educational children's content.
  • Defines the walled garden as a clearly designated and easily accessible section of a platform.
  • Requires the walled garden to be free from targeted advertising.
  • Allows minors to access the walled garden without creating an account.
  • Authorizes the Department of Consumer Affairs to adopt regulations needed to carry out these rules.
  • Requires covered platforms to submit annual compliance reports to the department.
  • Authorizes the department to conduct audits and imposes administrative penalties for violations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Covered online platforms as defined by the bill.
  • Minors who access educational content on these platforms without an account.
  • The Department of Consumer Affairs, which will oversee reports and conduct audits.

Terms To Know

Walled garden
A clearly designated and easily accessible section of a platform dedicated exclusively to educational children's content that is free from targeted advertising and does not require an account for minors to access.
Covered platform
An online service, product, or feature defined by the bill as required to follow these new rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The specific definition of 'educational children's content' is not detailed in this summary.
  • Specific details on how audits will be conducted and the exact amounts for administrative penalties are set by future regulations or specified provisions not fully listed here.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Privacy and Consumer Protection

Official Summary Text

Online platforms: educational children’s content.