AB 1705: Pornographic internet websites.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law generally regulates obscene content on internet websites, including requiring a social media platform to provide a means for a user who is a California resident to report material to the social media platform that the user reasonably believes is child sexual abuse material and prohibiting an operator of an internet website directed to minors from advertising obscene matter to minors. Under existing law, a person who distributes an image of an intimate body part or act of sexual intercourse of an identifiable person, under specified circumstances that include an agreement or understanding that the image would remain private, is guilty of a crime.

This bill would require an operator of a pornographic internet website, among other things, to exercise ordinary care and reasonable diligence to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content displayed on the operator’s pornographic internet website does not include a depicted individual. The bill would define terms, including “depicted individual” for its purposes.

This bill would also require an operator to exercise ordinary care and take reasonable steps to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content uploaded to the operator’s pornographic internet website does not include a depicted individual. The bill would require a user of a pornographic internet website, before uploading sexually explicit content, to submit specific information to the operator, including a statement certifying, under penalty of perjury, that each individual depicted in the sexually explicit content meets certain criteria. Under the bill, knowingly providing false information in the user statement would be punishable as an infraction with a specified fine. By expanding the crime of perjury and creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would authorize a depicted individual and a public prosecutor to bring a civil action to enforce these provisions, as prescribed.

This bill would exclude sexually explicit content transmitted on an online dating service through a private messaging or direct-communication feature from its provisions, as specified.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 890, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 890, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
6. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
7. August 24, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6414.).
8. August 24, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6414.).
9. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
10. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
11. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5589.).
12. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).