AB 2212, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and sponsored by Survivors + Allies, modernizes California’s Education Code to address sexual harassment enabled by digital technologies and AI
SACRAMENTO, CA — Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2212, the Higher Education AI Response (HEAR) Survivors Act, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and sponsored by Survivors + Allies. The law updates California’s Education Code to recognize new forms of sexual harm enabled by digital and artificial intelligence technologies.
“Technology is changing how sexual harassment occurs on our college campuses, and California’s laws must keep pace,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. “As technology and AI create new ways to harass, exploit, and harm students, California must make sure our laws recognize those harms. The HEAR Survivors Act is an important step toward doing just that. I’m grateful to Survivors + Allies for bringing this issue to the Legislature and supporting our work over the course of the year.”
The legislation follows statewide research by Survivors + Allies finding that 1 in 7 California Student survivors of sexual violence experienced online sexual harm, and that 40% of those survivors did not seek support from their institutions.
Bill sponsor Survivors + Allies said the following: “Survivors + Allies is thrilled that the HEAR Survivors Act is California law. With this law, all California college students will officially have a right to seek support from their universities for AI-generated and other tech-facilitated forms of sexual harassment. AB 2212 is a direct response to student voices and experiences, and we are so proud of and grateful to the students who led this effort and mobilized their peers, communities, and elected representatives to pass this bill. At a time when the federal government is failing survivors, we hope that AB 2212 can inspire other students and survivors across the country to demand change.”
Beginning August 1, 2027, AB 2212 will update various definitions in the postsecondary Education Code, including technology-facilitated sexual harassment, digitized sexually explicit material, sextortion, affirmative consent, and sexual exploitation, to account for harms enabled by digital technologies.
