South Carolina H 3431 — Age-Appropriate Design Code Act

South Carolina H 3431, the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, requires online platforms and services likely to be accessed by children under 18 to prioritize children's best interests. Covered companies must conduct data protection impact assessments before launching features accessible to minors, set privacy controls to their highest protective level by default for child users, minimize data collection, prohibit profiling children for commercial purposes without verifiable parental consent, and disclose how algorithms affect what content children see. Signed by Governor McMaster February 5, 2026; operational March 1, 2026.

Technical detail

S.C. H 3431 (126th General Assembly, 2026) — imposes UK-AADC/CAADCA-model requirements on covered online businesses: (1) mandatory data protection impact assessment (DPIA) for any feature or service likely to be accessed by a minor before deployment; (2) privacy settings at their highest protection level on by default for identified or likely minor users; (3) data minimization — collection strictly limited to what is necessary for the declared service purpose; (4) prohibition on profiling children for commercial purposes without verifiable parental consent; (5) prohibition on design features that extend children's use or expose children to content detrimental to their physical or mental health; (6) algorithmic transparency — require disclosure of algorithm purposes used to recommend or curate content to minors. Enforcement by South Carolina Attorney General; civil penalties. Signed February 5, 2026; enforcement effective March 1, 2026.

Who is protected: Children (under 18) using online platforms and services in South Carolina

Who must comply: Online services and platforms reasonably likely to be accessed by children in South Carolina

Key facts

More AI rules in SC

• SC H 4591 Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)

Related children's online safety rules elsewhere

• PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
• RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · In effect
• Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
• Washington HB 2225 (AI chatbot disclosure, minor protections, crisis protocols) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
• Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
• xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation