United States of America: Attorney General appealed Court ruling in NetChoice v. Bonta concerning California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act

On 11 April 2025, the Attorney General appealed the decision of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to block enforcement of the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA). The appeal follows the court’s preliminary injunction issued on 13 March 2025 in response to a legal challenge brought by an online trade association representing major internet platforms. The association argued that provisions of the Act, including age verification requirements, restrictions on data use, content-related obligations, and prohibitions on dark patterns, were overly broad, vague, or incompatible with First Amendment protections. The District Court found that several provisions were likely unconstitutional and issued an injunction preventing enforcement. The appeal was filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and seeks to reinstate the Act, which requires businesses offering online services likely to be accessed by children to implement privacy protections and limit the collection and use of children’s personal information. The Act was signed into law in September 2022.