GitHub prohibits users under 13 from creating accounts. If GitHub discovers an account belongs to someone under 13, the account will be terminated immediately.
This analysis describes what GitHub's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The under-13 prohibition reflects COPPA compliance obligations. Account termination without prior notice applies to underage accounts, which means any content, repositories, or project history associated with the account would become inaccessible immediately.
GitHub's updated Terms of Service now include an explicit section governing AI features, including Copilot. The new section establishes specific contractual terms for how user data may be collected, used, and retained for developing and improving AI and machine learning models, and identifies what controls are available to users. The practical effect is that AI-related data practices are now consolidated under dedicated contractual language rather than dispersed across general service terms.
View change record →GitHub's Terms of Service update on April 19, 2026 involved substantial revisions across 54 sentences, with 40 sentences removed and 4 added. The extent of change suggests modifications to core service provisions; however, without access to the specific language that was modified, removed, or added, the precise operational implications for users cannot be determined. Users should review the updated Terms directly to understand how the changes affect their usage rights, account obligations, or dispute resolution procedures.
View change record →Renamed from 'Minors and Age Requirements' to 'Age Restriction and Minor Account Prohibition'; severity remains low with full excerpt now specifying immediate termination for users under 13.
View full change record →Users under 13 are prohibited from holding GitHub accounts, and any such accounts discovered will be terminated immediately without a grace period. Parents or guardians of minors should be aware that account termination would result in loss of access to any repositories or data associated with the account.
How other platforms handle this
You and your organization's administrator can access several types of Service Data directly from Google Cloud, including your account information, billing contact information, payment and transaction information, as well as product and communication settings and configurations.
If you registered to use Notion's Services with such an email address, but you do not use the Services in connection with your organization...you may transfer your account to a different email address.
If you choose to reveal any personal information about yourself to other users, you do so at your own risk. We strongly encourage you to use caution in disclosing any personal information online.
"GitHub does not permit children under 13 years old to have an Account. GitHub does not direct our Service to children under 13, and we do not permit any Users under the age of 13 to access the Service. If we learn of any User under the age of 13, we will terminate that User's account immediately.Excerpt from GitHub's Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision reflects compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enforced by the FTC, which prohibits online services from collecting personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
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The under-13 prohibition reflects COPPA compliance obligations. Account termination without prior notice applies to underage accounts, which means any content, repositories, or project history associated with the account would become inaccessible immediately.
Users under 13 are prohibited from holding GitHub accounts, and any such accounts discovered will be terminated immediately without a grace period. Parents or guardians of minors should be aware that account termination would result in loss of access to any repositories or data associated with the account.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
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