United States of America: Law on Account Cancellation (AB 656) enters into force

On 1 January 2026, Assembly Bill 656 (AB 656), enacted as Chapter 464 of the Statutes of 2025, enters into force following its signature by the Governor of California on 8 October 2025 and filing by the Secretary of State. The law added Title 25 (commencing with Section 3273.90) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, establishing requirements for social media platforms generating more than USD 100 million in annual gross revenue to provide a clear and conspicuous “Delete Account” button accessible through the settings menu on all interfaces. It prohibited the use of dark patterns that obstruct or interfere with a user’s ability to delete an account, required deletion of all personal information upon confirmation of account deletion, and aligned deletion requests with verified consumer deletion requests under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA). The law declared any waiver of its provisions void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.