Senator Shannon Grove joined by the California Survivors Coalition and supporters of the bill on the Senate Floor.
Building directly on the federal Take It Down Act, Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that one of her measures to support victims and survivors of human trafficking has passed out of a key committee unanimously. The announcement comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice secured the first-ever conviction under the federal law against an Ohio man who created and distributed nonconsensual intimate images. Senate Bill 1217 would create a practical state-level clearinghouse to help remove adult victims' nonconsensual intimate images distributed online as part of their exploitation.
“Survivors of human trafficking already face a life-long journey of healing and recovery after the trauma and abuse they have suffered at the hands of their traffickers,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “The images that remain online are a painful daily reminder of the horrific abuse they have endured. By taking these images offline, we are empowering survivors, protecting their rights, and giving them the opportunity to heal.”
Human trafficking survivors often endure long-lasting trauma from the persistent circulation of intimate images created through coercion, threats, deception, or manipulation. While federal law provides a framework for platforms to remove such content, victims frequently face significant barriers in navigating complex reporting processes. SB 1217 creates a secure, coordinated Nonconsensual Intimate Image Clearinghouse within the Department of Justice to verify requests, generate digital identifiers, and streamline notifications to covered platforms for timely removal.
“The internet has outpaced our legal system, leaving victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery with rights on paper but no meaningful way to enforce them,” said Mariah Rief, on behalf of the California Survivor Coalition. “Yesterday, California approved an important bill that will finally provide real-world relief for survivors. I've lived what that gap looks like in real time. SB 1217 establishes the infrastructure needed to close it. Survivors deserve more than recognition, they deserve enforceable removal.”
The bill represents a thoughtful, survivor-centered approach that complements federal efforts and empowers California to better protect survivors of exploitation and abuse.
SB 1217 passed out of Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee and will next be heard in Senate Public Safety Committee.