United States of America: Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act (LB 504) enters into force with grace period

On 1 January 2026, the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act (LB 504) enters into force with a grace period. Violations are classified as deceptive trade practices, with civil penalties of up to USD 50’000 per violation enforceable from 1 July 2026. The Act includes severability provisions to ensure that the remaining sections remain valid if any part is held invalid. The Act defines terms such as “covered online service,” “covered minor,” and “covered design features,” and imposes requirements on such services to implement safeguards, including default high-protection settings, tools to limit data collection, and restrictions on targeted advertising and profiling. In addition, it mandates parental controls for users known to be under 13 and prohibits dark patterns and advertisements for prohibited products.