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 (26)
Cross cutting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-16 | Governance and Accountability |
Cross cutting: Marketing
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-18 | Marketing to Children |
Cross cutting: Records
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-21 | Records of Processing and Demonstrable Compliance |
Cross cutting: Transfers
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-19 | International Transfers Involving Children's Data |
Cross cutting: Vulnerability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-20 | Vulnerability and Accessibility |
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 |
Scope determination
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-17 | Audience Assessment (Likely to be Accessed by Children) |
Standard 1
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-1 | Best Interests of the Child |
Standard 10
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-10 | Geolocation |
Standard 11
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-11 | Parental Controls |
Standard 12
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-12 | Profiling |
Standard 13
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-13 | Nudge Techniques |
Standard 14
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-14 | Connected Toys and Devices |
Standard 15
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-15 | Online Tools |
Standard 2
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-2 | Data Protection Impact Assessments |
Standard 3
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-3 | Age Appropriate Application |
Standard 4
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-4 | Transparency |
Standard 5
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-5 | Detrimental Use of Data |
Standard 6
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-6 | Policies and Community Standards |
Standard 7
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-7 | Default Settings |
Standard 8
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-8 | Data Minimisation |
Standard 9
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AADC-9 | Data Sharing |
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 |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code), you already cover:
COPPA
21%
8 controls mapped
Compare →EU AI Act
21%
8 controls mapped
Compare →Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA)
21%
8 controls mapped
Compare →+ 494 more: ESRB Privacy Certified (21%), UK Data Protection Act 2018 (21%)
See all 497 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 497 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 26 domains and 39 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 39 controls organised across 26 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 497 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are COPPA (21% coverage), EU AI Act (21% coverage), Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA) (21% 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 39 controls and track your progress.
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