On September 20, 2026 Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed AB 2212 – The Higher Education AI Response (HEAR) Survivors Act into law. The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) proudly endorsed this vital legislation that will address and prevent digital sexual violence on college campuses.
SVPA worked with UC Survivor + Allies and other local student-led organizations to get this important bill passed. We endorsed the HEAR Survivors Act earlier this spring, encouraging assemblymembers, senators, and eventually Governor Newsom to pass this bill into law. We hope the leadership and courage of the student-surviors in California inspires other states to follow suit.
With the recent development of artificial intelligence technologies and the growing use of online applications, digital sexual violence is the fastest-increasing form of sexual harm. Our institutions, particularly universities and our government, lack adequate definitions, prevention programming, survivor support options, and legal recourse. This has been a prevalent issue in California. A 2025 study showed that 70% of survivors of online sexual harm did not seek support from their school due to a fear of not being taken seriously or having access to the proper resources.
The HEAR Survivors Act addresses these issues, ensuring that colleges have resources and policies in place to properly support survivors. This law adjusts the California Education Code, redefining sexual harassment to account for modern digital technologies. It institutes requirements for higher education institutions to adopt and publish policies that address deepfake pornography, revenge pornography, digital stalking, and other forms of technology-facilitated sexual harassment. Prior to this legislation being passed there were no uniform standards defining, investigating, or remediating these harms. Now, there are strong and consistent guidelines across California universities, allowing survivors access to reliable resources.
“The SVPA is proud to stand alongside students from across the state of California! The HEAR Survivors Act reinstates many of the protections we fought for in the Biden-era Title IX rule. Those protections have been revoked,” said Omny Miranda Martone, the Founder and CEO of the SVPA. “As federal protections continue to be threatened, we need more states to follow California’s lead and pass laws protecting students from the increasing threat of digital sexual violence.”
The SVPA has been a national leader in addressing digital sexual violence. The SVPA has worked with survivors and members of Congress to draft the DEFIANCE Act, a federal bill providing a civil right of action for victims of nonconsensual deepfake pornography to seek justice. We were strong advocates behind the Take It Down Act, which was signed into law in 2025. Additionally, the SVPA has developed the 5 R’s of Digital Bystander Intervention, a comprehensive guide for individuals to address and prevent digital sexual violence.
We applaud the students, activists, organizations, and legislators that passed the HEAR Survivors Act into law. This legislation will address and prevent technology-facilitated sexual harassment on campuses across California.
To learn more, please read our endorsement letters to the Higher Education Committee, the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, and Governor Newsom.
UPDATE 9/4/2026
The HEAR Survivors Act (AB 2212) has passed the California legislature! Now, Governor Gavin Newsom has until September 30th to sign or veto it. We are strongly urging him to sign this vital bill into law!
UPDATE 4/4/2026
The SVPA has endorsed the HEAR Survivors Act (AB 2212)! This is vital legislation for preventing digital sexual violence on California college campuses. We are strongly urging California Assemblymembers to pass this bill!
