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AB-2426 • 2026

Online platforms: educational children’s content.

Online platforms: educational children’s content.

Children Privacy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Wallis
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text and digest do not provide specific details on penalties or enforcement actions beyond administrative penalties.

Online Platforms: Educational Kids' Content

The bill requires online platforms that provide educational content for children to create special areas free from ads and easy for kids to use without needing an account.

What This Bill Does

  • Enacts the California Children’s Digital Educational Content Act of 2026, which sets rules for online platforms providing educational content for children.
  • Defines a 'walled garden' as a part of a platform that is only for educational content and easy to find. It must be free from ads and accessible without an account.
  • Requires covered platforms to report each year on how they follow the new rules.
  • Gives the Department of Consumer Affairs power to make rules about these requirements and do audits.
  • Imposes penalties if a platform does not follow the law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Online platforms that provide educational content for children
  • The California Department of Consumer Affairs

Terms To Know

Walled Garden
A special area on an online platform dedicated only to educational content for kids, free from ads and easy to access.
Covered Platform
An online platform that provides educational content for children and must follow the new rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a platform does not create a walled garden or fails to report annually.
  • It is unclear how many platforms will be affected by this law.
  • The exact penalties for breaking the rules are not detailed in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. 2026-03-23 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

  3. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and B. & P.

  5. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2426, as amended, Wallis.
Deceptive practices.
Online platforms: educational children’s content.
Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs to, among other things, protect consumer interests and regulate specified businesses. Existing law requires a business that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children to comply with specified requirements, including configuring all default privacy settings provided to children to settings that offer a high level of privacy. Existing law prohibits an operator of an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to minors from marketing or advertising specified products or services to a minor.
This bill would enact the California Children’s Digital Educational Content Act of 2026, which would require a covered platform, as
defined, to establish and maintain a walled garden. The bill would define a walled garden as a clearly designated and easily accessible section of a platform that is dedicated exclusively to educational children’s content, as defined. The bill would require a walled garden to meet certain requirements, including that it be free from targeted advertising and be accessible to minors without an account. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations to implement these provisions.
The bill would require a covered platform to annually submit a compliance report to the department and would authorize the department to conduct audits. The bill would impose specified administrative penalties for violation of its provisions.
The Consumers Legal Remedies Act makes unlawful certain unfair methods of competition and certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by a person in a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to a consumer. These include, among others, charging or receiving an unreasonable fee to prepare, aid, or advise a prospective applicant, applicant, or recipient in the procurement, maintenance, or securing of public social services, including veteran services.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF