IL SB51: AGE-APPROPRIATE DESIGN CODE

In one paragraph

Illinois' SB 51 is mainly a children's online privacy and design-code bill. As introduced, it would require a business whose online service, product, or feature is likely to be accessed by people under 18 to complete a data protection impact assessment, which must address whether the service's algorithms and targeted advertising systems could harm children, and would bar profiling a child by default. Attorney General enforcement only. Introduced January 13, 2025; re-referred to Assignments April 11, 2025 and still pending.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None unless enacted: the bill is pending. If enacted, businesses with online services likely to be accessed by minors would need documented impact assessments, covering algorithms and ads.

Key provisions

1. 1Sec. 10(a)(1): a business would have to complete a data protection impact assessment before offering any new online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children, and review it biennially
2. 2The assessment would have to address, to the extent applicable, whether algorithms and targeted advertising systems used by the service could harm children, and whether design features extend children's use
3. 3Sec. 10(b)(2): a business could not profile a child by default (profiling = automated processing of personal information to evaluate a person) unless it shows safeguards plus a necessity or compelling best-interests reason
4. 4Sec. 10(b): would also bar uses of a child's data the business knows or has reason to know are materially detrimental, default collection of precise geolocation unless strictly necessary, and certain dark patterns; Sec. 10(a)(6): high-privacy default settings required unless a compelling best-interests reason is shown
5. 5Sec. 20: assessments due by July 1, 2026 for services already offered to the public before that date
6. 6Sec. 25: Attorney General civil action only, up to $2,500 per affected child per negligent violation and $7,500 per intentional violation; businesses in substantial compliance with Sec. 10(a)(1)-(4) get notice and 90 days to cure; no private right of action
7. 7Sec. 15 would create a Children's Data Protection Working Group (report due January 1, 2026 and every 2 years; repealed January 1, 2032)
8. 8Status: introduced January 13, 2025; Senate Committee Amendments 1 and 2 were filed but not adopted; re-referred to Assignments April 11, 2025

Latest legislative action

Apr 11, 2025. Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Sponsors

Amendments (2)

• Senate Amendment 001 Not adopted 2025-03-13
• Senate Amendment 002 Not adopted 2025-03-19

Related and companion bills

• Illinois SB0050AGE-APPROPRIATE DESIGN CODE
• Illinois SB3241AGE-APPROPRIATE DESIGN CODE