Dear UCOP Title IX Deputy Director Isabel Alvarado Dees, UC President Michael Drake, and the Regents of the University of California,

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern over the rising incidents of AI-generated sexual abuse impacting students across the University of California system. The advent of AI-generated deepfakes has introduced a disturbing new form of sexual violence that current university policies are presently ill-equipped to address.

We are deeply concerned about the insufficiency of current UC policy in protecting students from being subjected to AI-generated sexual abuse and the lack of support for students that have become subjected to AI-generated sexual abuse. At present, the definitions of sexual violence within the UC Title IX guidelines do not explicitly include AI-generated content, leaving a critical gap in protection and support for victims; additionally, none of the UC Title IX websites mention AI-generated sexual abuse or clarify whether it is included in definitions of sexual violence that would result in a Title IX investigation. Moreover, there is a noticeable absence of resources on UC campuses tailored to assist victims of AI-generated sexual abuse, from mental health services to legal aid aimed at removing harmful content from the internet. 

We urge you to take immediate action to fortify the University of California’s commitment to public service, safeguard students, and uphold the UC’s core values of dignity and respect by creating policies to protect students from digital and image-based sexual abuse. We propose the following:

• Revise Section II.B.2 of the University of California Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy (“UC SVSH Policy”) to include AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse under the definition of "Sexual Harassment" to ensure comprehensive protective measures and disciplinary actions.
• Update current trainings that pertain to SVSH prevention to include specific guidance on AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse for all UC students, UC staff, UC employees, UC Police Departments (UCPD), and Title IX investigators. 
• Implement a reporting measure within the UC network for UC affiliates to report the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexual abuse and other forms of image-based sexual abuse. This reporting measure should be made available to UC students, staff, and other UC affiliates and accessible via any of the UC Title IX websites.
• Invest in resources to support Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) counselors and staff in providing services to survivors of AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse. CAPS counselors and staff should receive training to prepare them to understand, address, and provide care and services to those experiencing psychological impacts from AI-generated sexual abuse. 
• Provide resources to survivors of AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse to take legal recourse and pursue civil remedies (i.e. financial compensation) against creators and producers of AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse, as per the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE) Act. UC legal clinic attorneys and staff should be prepared to provide legal advice and services to survivors pursuing civil remedies and should receive training to effectively litigate creators and producers of AI-generated/image-based sexual abuse under the DEFIANCE Act. 

The University of California has the opportunity to lead by example in addressing the complexities introduced by technological advancements. By taking decisive steps to update policies, enhance training programs, and expand support services, UC can protect its students and reaffirm its dedication to fostering a safe and respectful academic environment.

We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and call on you to act swiftly to support survivors of AI-generated and image-based sexual abuse.

[Petition created by Survivors + Allies @ UCLA, a student organization based at UCLA that advocates for and with survivors of sexual violence across the UC system and California.]