United States of America: Passed sexually explicit digital images Act (SB 981)

On 13 May 2024, the sexually explicit digital images Act (SB 981) was passed by the Californian Senate. The Bill focuses on combating sexually explicit digital identity theft on social media platforms. In particular, the Bill requires social media platforms to provide a mechanism for California residents to report instances where their likeness has been used without consent in explicit content. The Bill defines sexually explicit digital identity theft as the unauthorised use of a person’s likeness in images or videos depicting intimate body parts or sexual acts. Platforms must remove sexually explicit digital identity theft.