{"id":187790,"date":"2024-05-09T10:45:21","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T09:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=187790"},"modified":"2025-09-02T07:46:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T06:46:18","slug":"age-appropriate-design-children-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/age-appropriate-design-children-code\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Age-Appropriate Design or Children’s Code?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In today’s digital age, children are at particular risk. Increasingly, children of young ages are accessing a range of online platforms daily, requiring additional safeguards to protect their data and well-being. As such, the UK data protection regulator has implemented the ‘Age-Appropriate Design Code’ (commonly known as the Children’s Code<\/strong>) as an innovative step to protect children online. This article will explore the Children’s Code and its implications for businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Age-Appropriate Design or Children’s Code? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UK General Data Protection Regulation<\/a> (UK GDPR<\/strong>) is a legal framework governing the handling of personal data, setting critical rules and guidelines for businesses regarding the collection, processing, and storage of such information. It is a set of laws designed to protect individuals’ privacy and ensure that organisations handle their data responsibly. The Data Protection Act 2018 supplements the UK GDPR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help protect children’s personal data<\/a>, the data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO<\/strong>), has published the Age-Appropriate Design Code, most widely known as the ‘Children’s Code’. This is a statutory code prepared under the UK Data Protection Act 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This code contains 15 standards that online services must adhere to. These standards focus on prioritising the privacy and safety of children in their digital interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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GDPR Essentials Factsheet<\/div>\n
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This factsheet sets out how your business can become GDPR compliant.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\nDownload Now<\/a> <\/section>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

The Age-Appropriate Design Code applies to ‘information society services’. This will capture many online services likely to be accessed by children, including apps, social media, streaming platforms, and more services. Even if not aimed at children, services used by those under 18 may need adjustments to meet the code’s standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting children’s data is vital for numerous reasons. Children are often more vulnerable to privacy breaches and online dangers due to their limited understanding of digital risks. Additionally, their personal information, if mistreated, can have long-lasting adverse outcomes, including identity theft, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By applying strong measures defined in the Age-Appropriate Design Code, online services can ensure that children’s data is handled carefully and that their online experiences are tailored to their developmental stage. This helps safeguard child privacy and fosters a safer and more trustworthy digital environment for young users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does the Age-Appropriate Design Code State?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Age-Appropriate Design Code creates a wide-ranging framework for online services prioritising children’s well-being.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The code encompasses 15 essential standards and promotes transparency by requiring services to explain data practices in a child-friendly manner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The standards set out fundamental principles to protect the privacy of children, which in simple terms, include the following principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n