California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law, AB 1394, punishing web services and social media platforms for “knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation” of children.
The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
The law is aimed at making social media services crack down on child sexual abuse material, adding punishments for sites that “knowingly” leave reported material online.
Prominent supporters of the law include the child-focused nonprofit Common Sense Media.
Tech industry trade associations TechNet and NetChoice raised concerns about the bill, with NetChoice urging Newsom to veto it.
