UK Watchdog Releases Strict Privacy Design Code to Protect Children Online
The UK Information Commissioner's Office publishes a 15-standard age appropriate design code that forces online services to default to high privacy for children. The broad rules apply to any internet service likely to be accessed by kids in the UK.
The UK data protection watchdog publishes a set of 15 design standards to protect the privacy and safety of children online. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) creates this Age Appropriate Design Code in response to growing concerns about the tracking and profiling of children who are too young to legally consent to data collection under current laws.
The new code requires online services to set high privacy options by default and collect only the minimum amount of data necessary. It explicitly bans manipulative "nudge techniques" and dark pattern user interfaces that encourage children to weaken their own privacy protections or hand over unnecessary personal information.
This regulation applies to a wide range of online services, including social media platforms, games, fitness apps, and streaming sites. The ICO states that the rules affect any service available to UK users that is deemed more probable than not to be accessed by children, ensuring broad coverage across the digital landscape.