CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(b)(7) - Dark patterns (enjoined)
Prohibit dark patterns that lead children to over-share data, forego privacy, or take actions detrimental to their well-being
Where this comes from
Provision: Section 1798.99.31(b)(7) - Dark patterns (enjoined)
Instrument: California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273)
Citation: Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.99.31(b)(7); 'dark pattern' as defined in § 1798.140(l); AB 2273, Stats. 2022 ch. 320, as amended by SB 1525, Stats. 2024 ch. 80
Text version: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.99.28-1798.99.40 (AB 2273, Stats. 2022 ch. 320; § 1798.99.31 as amended by SB 1525, Stats. 2024 ch. 80, effective 1 January 2025), leginfo.legislature.ca.gov text retrieved 2026-09-21. Partly enjoined: NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta, No. 25-2366 (9th Cir. 12 Mar. 2026) — see confidenceNotes.
Who it applies to
It applies when all of these are true:
- Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18
- Service requires/offers account registration
- Service uses content personalization
Scope in the source's own terms
- Service has child users
- Service available to California residents
What engineering work it implies
Sample acceptance criteria Landfall generates for this obligation:
- Default profile visibility: private (not public)
- Default data sharing: off (opt-in, not opt-out)
- Default location tracking: off
- Default contact discoverability: off
- User can change any default via settings
Evidence an auditor expects
- User-interface evidenceUser testing
UI/UX design review
Design documentation showing absence of manipulative patterns in child-facing interfaces
- Audit reportThird-party auditRecommended
Dark patterns audit
Review confirming no deceptive design patterns that exploit children
Questions people ask
- Does CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(b)(7) - Dark patterns (enjoined) apply to my service?
- It applies when Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18; Service requires/offers account registration; Service uses content personalization.
- From when does this apply?
- CAADCA Section 1798.99.31(b)(7) - Dark patterns (enjoined) applies from 1 July 2024. Its current status is: passed, not yet in force.
- What evidence does an auditor expect?
- UI/UX design review; Dark patterns audit.
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.