CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(a)(4) - Geolocation
Do not collect or use precise geolocation of children by default; allow only when strictly necessary and for the minimum time required
Where this comes from
Provision: Section 1798.99.31(a)(4) - Geolocation
Instrument: California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273)
Citation: Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.99.31(a)(4), California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273)
Text version: California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, AB-2273 (2022); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.99.28–1798.99.40
Who it applies to
It applies when all of these are true:
- Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18
- Data categories collected includes Location / Address
- Youngest user age is Under 13, 13-15 or 16-17
…unless:
- Precise geolocation may be collected where strictly necessary for the service (e.g., navigation, local weather). (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.99.31(d)(1))
- Location collection for child safety or emergency response is permitted. (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.99.31(d)(2))
Scope in the source's own terms
- Service collects precise geolocation data
- Location data collected from children
- Service available to California residents
What engineering work it implies
Sample acceptance criteria Landfall generates for this obligation:
- Prohibited action is technically blocked
- Users cannot bypass the restriction
- Clear messaging explains why action is blocked
- Attempts are logged for compliance monitoring
- Test that prohibited action fails gracefully
Evidence an auditor expects
- Technical controlTechnical audit
Geolocation collection controls
Technical implementation showing precise geolocation disabled by default for children
- User-interface evidenceUser testing
Location permission prompts
Child-appropriate location permission requests with clear explanation
Questions people ask
- Does CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(a)(4) - Geolocation apply to my service?
- It applies when Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18; Data categories collected includes Location / Address; Youngest user age is Under 13, 13-15 or 16-17. It does not apply where Precise geolocation may be collected where strictly necessary for the service (e.g., navigation, local weather). (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.99.31(d)(1)).
- From when does this apply?
- CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(a)(4) - Geolocation applies from 1 July 2024. Its current status is: in force.
- What evidence does an auditor expect?
- Geolocation collection controls; Location permission prompts.
Find out whether this one lands on you
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Not legal advice. Landfall maps regulatory obligations to engineering work for planning purposes. Its verdicts are not legal advice and create no attorney-client relationship — verify with qualified counsel before relying on them.