Cybersecurity Policy Report, New Jersey Assembly Committee OKs Proposed ‘Kids Code Act’, (Feb 20, 2026)
The Assembly Committee on Science, Innovation, and Technology voted 7-0 this week to pass a bill to enact the New Jersey Kids Code Act and adopt requirements for online service providers to enhance the privacy and safety of minors online.
AB 4015 would limit the collection, retention, and use of minors’ personal data, requiring that only the minimum necessary data be processed for the specific service engaged by the minor. The bill would also ban targeted advertising to minors, restrict notifications during late-night and school hours, prohibit profiling except when necessary for a requested service, and forbid the use of “dark patterns.” The bill would require that default privacy settings for known minors be set to the highest level of protection. Covered online service providers would also have to establish mechanisms for minors or their parents to report harms experienced on the platform, according to the bill.
In addition, the bill would require covered online service providers to annually publish a detailed, independently audited report on their website describing their services as they pertain to minors, including privacy and safety features, data practices, use of algorithms, and time spent by minors on the service.
The bill (A.B. 4015, Reg Sess.) is sponsored by Assembly member Andrea Katz (D., District 8).
News: StateLegislation DataPrivacy