UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code)
The UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code), issued by the ICO under the Data Protection Act 2018, establishes 15 standards that online services likely to be accessed by children must comply with. Effective September 2, 2021, it sets expectations for how children's data should be handled by default. Applies to information society services likely to be accessed by children under 18 in the UK.
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Framework Domains (5)
Default Settings and Data Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Standard 7 | Default Settings |
| Standard 8 | Data Minimisation |
| Standard 9 | Data Sharing |
Design Practices and Tools
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Standard 13 | Nudge Techniques |
| Standard 14 | Connected Toys and Devices |
| Standard 15 | Online Tools |
Foundational Standards
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Standard 1 | Best Interests of the Child |
| Standard 2 | Data Protection Impact Assessments |
| Standard 3 | Age Appropriate Application |
Location and Tracking
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Standard 10 | Geolocation |
| Standard 11 | Parental Controls |
| Standard 12 | Profiling |
Transparency and Accountability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.6.1 | Transparency for Children |
| Req.6.2 | Explainability |
| Req.6.3 | Accountability Mechanisms |
| Standard 4 | Transparency |
| Standard 5 | Detrimental Use of Data |
| Standard 6 | Policies and Community Standards |
Maps to 483 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code)?
UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) is a compliance framework from United Kingdom with 5 domains and 18 controls. The UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code), issued by the ICO under the Data Protection Act 2018, establishes 15 standards that online services likely to be accessed by children must comply with. Effective September 2, 2021, it sets expectations for how children's data should be handled by default. Applies to information society services likely to be accessed by children under 18 in the UK. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) have?
UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) has 18 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Transparency and Accountability (6 controls), Default Settings and Data Controls (3 controls), Design Practices and Tools (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) map to?
UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) maps to 483 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are COPPA (44% coverage), Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA) (44% coverage), ESRB Privacy Certified Programme (44% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) compliance?
Start your UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 18 controls and track your progress.
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