Assembly approves bill to force tech companies to cut abusers’ access to smart devices

The Assembly on Aug. 20 approved SB 50, the Victims Digital Safety Act, which seeks to protect victims of domestic and intimate‑partner violence from abusers who exploit internet‑connected devices and shared online accounts.

Assemblymember Rob Bonta, presenting the bill, said advances in connected technology have created new avenues for abusers to surveil and control victims — from controlling smart home locks and cameras to accessing shared phone accounts. "SB 50 will prevent abusers from controlling and remotely harassing victims when instances of abuse are reported by a victim," Bonta said on the floor. The bill would require technology companies to promptly cut off an identified abuser’s access to shared accounts and certain connected devices when notified under a covered reporting process.

Floor debate was brief and largely supportive. The clerk recorded a unanimous vote of 69 to 0. Sponsors said the bill fills a gap in existing law by adapting protections to modern digital abuse tactics; implementation details will follow in regulatory or company compliance steps once the measure is enrolled and enacted.