AB 2291

Pupil safety: harassment: AI-generated deepfakes: hotline and portal

This bill proposes creating a confidential hotline and online portal where K-12 students in California can report being harassed with AI-generated fake images or videos and get immediate, sensitive support. It is a statement of the Legislature's intention to build this resource, rather than a fully enacted program.

Existing law requires school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to adopt procedures for preventing acts of bullying, including cyberbullying. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to make available to school districts on its internet website a list of resources and instructional materials on the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and use media and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media, including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to establish a confidential hotline and digital reporting portal that would allow pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to report instances of harassment caused by the use of AI-generated deepfakes and receive immediate, trauma-informed guidance without fear of retaliation or punishment.