Wisconsin Kids Code

The Wisconsin Kids Code (AB1161/SB978) was introduced in January 2026 by Representative Alex Joers, Representative Jill Billings, Representative Renuka Mayadev, and Senator Jeff Smith.

The bill is age-appropriate design code legislation that would improve young people’s digital experiences by requiring tech companies to implement privacy-by-default and safety-by-design protections for kids online. This means not collecting or selling their data, setting high privacy standards by default, and avoiding manipulative design.

• Significant provisions of the Wisconsin Age-Appropriate Design Code include:
• Requiring companies to be transparent about how they use minors’ personal data.
• Requiring covered businesses to configure minors’ default privacy settings to the highest level of privacy.
• Providing minors with the ability to limit unwanted adult contact.
• Giving minors greater ability to influence the systems that deliver them content by requiring companies to respect their express preferences, not simply using surveillance data.  
• Restricting push notifications unless minors explicitly opt-in.