AB 602 (Deepfake Intimate Images)
California Civil Action for Sexually Explicit Digital Depictions (AB 602)
California · Cal. Civ. Code § 1708.86 (AB 602, 2019); Cal. Penal Code § 647(j)(4)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- January 1, 2020
- Applies to
- Creators and intentional disclosers of such material
- Enforced by
- Courts (civil actions); district attorneys (criminal provisions)
Californians depicted in sexually explicit deepfakes made or shared without their consent can sue the people responsible for damages, including statutory damages and attorney's fees. Criminal liability also exists under separate provisions (SB 926, 2024).
Who is protected: Individuals depicted in nonconsensual sexually explicit digitized/deepfake material
Legal detail
Cal. Civ. Code § 1708.86 creates a private right of action against persons who create or intentionally disclose sexually explicit material the person knows or should know was unconsented digitization; Penal Code § 647(j)(4) as amended by SB 926 (2024) criminalizes AI-generated intimate imagery distribution.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | October 3, 2019 |
| Citation | Cal. Civ. Code § 1708.86 (AB 602, 2019); Cal. Penal Code § 647(j)(4) |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Economic/noneconomic damages or statutory damages ($1,500–$30,000; up to $150,000 for malice), punitive damages, attorney's fees; criminal misdemeanor penalties under Penal Code |
| Topics | non-consensual intimate imagery · deepfakes · AI-generated images · consumer data privacy |
| Statute | Cal. Civ. Code § 1708.86 (California Legislative Information) |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1168 — data center grid cost allocation · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 1119 Adam's Law, companion chatbots (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related non-consensual intimate imagery rules elsewhere
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- Illinois HB 3851 — deepfake cyberbullying in schools (2026) · In effect
- TAKE IT DOWN Act · In effect
- DEFIANCE Act (deepfake-porn civil suits) · Proposed / pending
- NY S5959-D (2020, digital replicas + deepfake porn) · In effect
- Missouri Deepfake & Digital Media Protection Act · Proposed / pending
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