Adults in California currently feel safely entitled to send digital pictures of their genitalia to strangers willy nilly, perhaps unaware that this sort of thing is an aggressive sexual offense and should be prosecuted under existing indecent exposure laws.

I am petitioning the California State Senate and Assembly to publish an update to Penal Code Section 314 to specifically include digital harassment to clarify this issue and to protect the rights of adult recipients to not receive unwanted and obscene material as we go about our daily lives, whether out in public or in the privacy of our own homes.

I propose that “present” in statute 314.1 specifically include being the recipient of unsolicited obscene electronic communications whether via email, private message, or app, because I feel that I am indeed quite present when viewing such unwanted, obscene materials that have been forced upon my eyes.

I propose that “in the view of” in statute 314.2 explicitly be defined to include unsolicited obscene electronic communications because they do invade my home and my privacy via the devices I spend most of my waking hours using. I cannot simply stop using technology.

Thank you for being willing to work with us on this matter.