United States of America: Implemented Act regulating online child sexual abuse material (AB 1394)

On 1 January 2025, the Act regulating online child sexual abuse material (AB 1394) entered into force. The Act aims to combat the sexual exploitation of minors and the dissemination of child sexual abuse material on social media platforms. The law mandates that platforms provide a reporting mechanism for California residents to report suspected child sexual abuse material. If such material is reported, the platform must block it and make efforts to remove similar content. The Act also imposes statutory damages on social media platforms that “knowingly facilitate” the distribution of commercial sexual exploitation, along with requirements for regular audits of platform features and designs. The platforms would face a fine of USD 250’000 per violation. Finally, the Act specifies that reporting users are entitled to confirmation and updates on the content flagged.