Central OC Times

Assemblymember Diane Dixon has introduced a new bill, AB 392, aimed at ensuring the safety and consent of individuals depicted in sexually explicit material uploaded to adult media sites. The legislation requires users to verify both age and consent before uploading such content.

"In our hyper-technological age, it is easy for sexually explicit material to end up online. Once this content is online, it is extremely difficult to remove," said Assemblymember Dixon. "We must look for every opportunity to protect Californians from having their personal images and videos uploaded without their consent."

The proposed Protect Act seeks to address the issue of image-based sexual abuse, which affects one in 12 people. Under the act, uploaders must confirm that all individuals shown are at least 18 years old and have given their consent. Additionally, sufficient information must be provided so that uploaders can be contacted if necessary verifications are not met.

Uldouz Wallace, a survivor of the 2014 iCloud Hack/Leak where her private images were leaked without her consent, supports the bill. She has previously introduced similar legislation in other states and Congress. Wallace also founded Foundation Ra, a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about image-based sexual abuse.

"The Protect Act is the only bill that will block abuse from happening in the first place and require users who upload sexually explicit material to verify the age and consent of the individuals featured within the content," Wallace stated. "This verification technology already exists, but unfortunately there is no requirement in law to implement it."

Assemblymember Dixon expressed her commitment to working with Wallace on this initiative: "I am honored to work with Uldouz on the Protect Act," she said. "Her story is gut wrenching, and it is important for us to use this opportunity to continue the conversation of protecting all Californians from becoming victims of image-based sexual abuse."

Foundation Ra offers resources for those seeking assistance with removing non-consensual materials from the internet.