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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Dixon</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Dixon</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 22.6 (commencing with Section 22605) to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to the internet.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>the internet</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Pornographic internet websites: consent.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law generally regulates obscene content on internet websites, including by requiring a social media platform to provide, in a mechanism that is reasonably accessible to users, a means for a user who is a California resident to report material to the social media platform that the user reasonably believes is, among other things, child sexual abuse material.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require a person who operates an internet website to exercise ordinary care and reasonable diligence to ensure that any sexually explicit content, as defined, uploaded to the operator’s pornographic internet website does not include a depicted individual, as defined. The bill would require a user to, before uploading sexually explicit content to a pornographic internet website, submit, among other things, a statement certifying, not under penalty of perjury, that any
individual depicted in the sexually explicit content was not a minor at the time the sexually explicit content was created, consented to being depicted in the sexually explicit content, and consents to the sexually explicit content being uploaded to the internet on the pornographic internet website. The bill would make knowingly providing false information in that statement an infraction punishable by a fine, as specified. By creating a new infraction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require an operator of a pornographic internet website to verify a user’s email address before permitting the user to upload sexually explicit content to the operator’s pornographic internet website.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would authorize a depicted individual and a public prosecutor to bring a civil action to enforce the bill, as prescribed.</html:p>
<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_A8B29C60-EEFA-41D4-951C-1EF5BF771F0F">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 22.6 (commencing with Section 22605) is added to Division 8 of the
<ns0:DocName>Business and Professions Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading id="id_C8BA4648-A5EE-402B-99CD-F3EF34C66A70" type="CHAPTER">
<ns0:Num>22.6.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawHeadingVersion id="id_C74833C8-4D84-47B2-88B4-54F43125AFC9">
<ns0:LawHeadingText>Pornographic Internet Websites</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_44F97058-5F43-48D5-BA28-E46E3F73FEFB">
<ns0:Num>22605.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>As used in this chapter:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Clear and conspicuous” shall have the meaning defined in Section 17601.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Depicted individual” means an individual who is depicted in the nude or engaging in sexual acts in sexually explicit content and who meets any of the following criteria:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The
individual did not consent to being depicted in the sexually explicit content.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The individual was a minor at the time the sexually explicit content was created.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
When the sexually explicit content was uploaded to the pornographic internet website, the individual did not consent to that uploading.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Internet website” does not include either of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A service or application that provides email or direct messaging services, on the basis of that function alone.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A service or application that provides cloud storage, file transfer services, or
file collaboration, on the basis of that function alone.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Operator” means a person who operates an internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Pornographic internet website” means an internet website that the owner or operator of the internet
website holds out as featuring sexually explicit content or invites users to upload, or solicits from users, sexually explicit content for display on the internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sexually explicit content” means any portion of a visual or audiovisual work, including imagery
created or substantially altered through digitization,
that shows a depicted individual or individuals in the nude or engaging in sexual conduct.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sexually explicit content” does not mean content that, taken as a whole, has serious literary, artistic political, or scientific value.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sexual conduct” has the same meaning as in Section 1708.86 of the Civil
Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“User” means a person or entity that uploads or otherwise provides sexually explicit content to a pornographic internet website.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_CD19224F-2AC9-45DB-87C4-4D779028AAF8">
<ns0:Num>22606.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_F9E8E9AC-1E22-461D-B3CB-C82654E33115">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>An operator shall exercise ordinary care, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 1714 of the Civil Code, and reasonable diligence to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content displayed on the operator’s internet website does not include a depicted individual.</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_137C0153-8A73-4180-A504-E8020937E992">
<ns0:Num>22607.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_5C1661BC-2E5E-4274-845F-C0397C65B248">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Before uploading sexually explicit content to a pornographic internet website, a user shall submit both of the following to the operator of the pornographic internet website:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A statement certifying, not under penalty of perjury, that each individual depicted in the sexually explicit content meets all of the following criteria:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The individual was not a minor at the time the sexually explicit content was created.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The individual consents to the sexually explicit content being uploaded to the internet on the
pornographic internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The individual consented to being depicted in the sexually explicit content.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An operator of a pornographic internet website who does not obtain the statement described in subparagraph (A) shall be presumed to have violated Section 22606.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The presumption created by clause (i) may be rebutted if the operator establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the operator took other steps to verify that material uploaded to, and displayed on, the pornographic website satisfied the criteria described in subparagraph (A) that were consistent with its duty of care described in Section 22606.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Knowingly providing false information in the statement described in subparagraph (A) is an infraction punishable by a one-thousand-dollar ($1,000) fine.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Information sufficient to enable the operator to contact the
user, including, at a minimum, an email address.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An operator shall retain the statement and information required by subdivision (a) in a readily available format for at least seven years after the statement and information are submitted.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An operator of a pornographic internet website shall verify a user’s email address before permitting the user to upload sexually explicit content to the operator’s pornographic internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An operator of a pornographic internet website may require a user to submit the information required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) through a specific mechanism or medium.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_1FF2B613-7AEE-4E36-92A7-8AAE89C9D7AD">
<ns0:Num>22608.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A depicted individual who suffers harm as a result of sexually explicit content depicting the individual being displayed on a pornographic internet website may bring a civil action against the operator of the pornographic internet website if the operator allowed that content to be uploaded to, or
displayed on, its pornographic internet website in violation of Section 22606 or 22607 and may bring a civil action against the user for uploading sexually explicit content that the user knew, or should have known, included a depicted individual.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A depicted individual who prevails in a civil action pursuant to this section may obtain all of the following relief:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Actual damages or statutory damages in an amount that is not greater than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per violation, whichever amount is greater.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Punitive damages.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any other available relief, including injunctive relief.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A public prosecutor may bring a civil action to enforce this chapter to obtain all of the following relief:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A civil penalty of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per violation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Injunctive and other equitable relief.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any other relief the court deems appropriate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Each full calendar day that sexually explicit
content uploaded or displayed in violation of this chapter remains accessible on the internet
website constitutes a separate violation of this chapter.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_F1F66394-0A9D-411E-8571-5133C7FA8697">
<ns0:Num>22609.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_B42BAEE9-7C55-46B3-B6C9-47AE4867B98E">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.</html:p>
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</ns0:LawHeading>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_8B0EB22B-5E52-4273-B185-E3E3113E80B7">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
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