Over the past 12 months, more regulatory attention has been focused on protecting children online. In the U.S., states like California and New Jersey have recently enacted legislation designed to protect children from the dangers of AI tools like chatbots and companions, along with requiring age-appropriate design codes for online services accessible to children. On the international stage, regulators across the pond are contemplating similar legislation.

The European Commission published the proposed EU KIDS Act on September 17, 2026 (the Proposed Act). This proposal reflects the EU’s continuing effort to strengthen protections for children online by harmonizing existing EU requirements. The Proposed Act’s stated aim is to avoid a fragmented regulatory landscape that increases compliance complexity and, in turn, may impede companies’ ability to effectively protect children in practice.
While the EU KIDS Act has not yet been enacted, businesses should begin to familiarize themselves with the Proposed Act as this draft, or a version close to it, may ultimately become law.
Continue Reading Smiling Faces and Safer Online Spaces: An Overview of the Proposed EU KIDS Act















