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California bill would require platforms to verify consent before hosting explicit intimate images
Summary
AB 1705 would require platforms hosting user uploads of explicit content to verify consent of all depicted individuals before allowing uploads; proponents frame it as proactive protection for survivors and to curb proliferation of nonconsensual material; tech industry seeks narrower application and clearer distinctions for different classes of sites.
Assemblymember presented AB 1705 (Reclaim Act) as a proactive approach that places the burden on platforms to verify that uploaded explicit content includes consent from all depicted individuals, rather than relying on victims to find and request removal. The author said current law allows takedown after distribution but does not prevent initial upload and rapid proliferation.
Supporters at the hearing included representatives of the District Attorneys Association and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, who emphasized survivor protection and enforcement. TechNet and the Computer and Communications Industry Association registered respectful opposition, urging clearer distinctions between general websites and adult‑oriented platforms and offering to work with the author on refinements to decrease overbreadth.
Committee discussion centered on whether the bill’s definitions and amended language would apply across the broad range of sites and the practicality of platform verification requirements. The author said she would accept committee amendments intended to clarify application and that staff would continue to work with stakeholders on narrow technical fixes. The committee moved the bill as amended for further action.
