Bill > HB347

This bill amends existing Alabama law to create new protections against the creation and distribution of "private images," which are defined as sexually explicit images of identifiable individuals where there's a reasonable expectation of privacy against their transmission or creation, and also includes child sexual abuse material. It establishes criminal penalties for knowingly distributing or creating such images without consent, with violations escalating from a misdemeanor to a felony for subsequent offenses. The bill also grants the Attorney General the authority to seek injunctions to stop these violations and clarifies that technology developers are not liable if they provide general-purpose tools with substantial lawful uses, unless they actively design, market, or promote their products to facilitate the creation of private images or make a "material contribution" (meaning a significant assistance or encouragement) to their production or dissemination. Furthermore, the bill creates a private right of action, allowing individuals depicted in illicit material to sue "violators" – defined as website owners, application providers, or payment processors who recklessly facilitate the production or disclosure of such material, especially if they fail to remove it within 72 hours of a request. These violations are also considered deceptive trade practices, allowing the Attorney General to seek civil penalties.

Justice

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search