SR41

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THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of the attorney general to convene a youth digital safety and platform accountability working group to examine technology-facilitated abuse in the State and develop recommendations for regulatory safeguards.

WHEREAS, digital technologies and connected devices have become integral to most aspects of daily life, including transportation, education, and personal safety; and

WHEREAS, emerging forms of technology-facilitated abuse, including the use of tracking applications, location-sharing tools, spyware, stalking software, and connected devices, are increasingly used to harass, monitor, and control individuals, particularly women, girls, and survivors of domestic and gender‑based violence; and

WHEREAS, nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, deepfake technologies, and artificial intelligence-generated content have created new avenues for exploitation and coercion that outpace existing legal frameworks; and

WHEREAS, youth and young adults are disproportionately affected by online harassment, cyberstalking, and digital coercion, yet often lack access to clear reporting pathways, culturally competent support services, and consistent protections across digital platforms; and

WHEREAS, the State's geographic isolation and reliance on digital connectivity for education, employment, and community engagement heighten the importance of safe and secure digital environments for residents across all islands; and

WHEREAS, the State has a compelling interest in preventing gender-based violence, protecting privacy and civil liberties, and ensuring that emerging technologies are developed and deployed in ways that uphold safety, dignity, and equity; and

WHEREAS, addressing technology-facilitated abuse requires coordinated action across state agencies, the private sector, survivor service providers, and youth leaders; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of the Attorney General is requested to convene a Youth Digital Safety and Platform Accountability Working Group to examine technology‑facilitated abuse in the State and develop recommendations for regulatory safeguards; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to include:

(1) The Attorney General or their designee, who shall serve as chair of the working group;

(2) The Director of Human Services or their designee;

(3) The Executive Director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience or their designee;

(4) The Executive Director of the State Commission on the Status of Women or their designee;

(5) The Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu or their designee;

(6) A representative from the Hawaii State Youth Commission, to be invited by the chair;

(7) A representative from the Youth Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, to be invited by the chair;

(8) A representative from the Domestic Violence Action Center, to be invited by the chair;

(9) A representative from the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, to be invited by the chair;

(10) A representative from Imua Alliance, to be invited by the chair; and

(11) A representative from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, to be invited by the chair; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

(1) Assess the prevalence and forms of technology-facilitated abuse in the State, including stalking through location-tracking tools, coercive control through connected devices, and image-based sexual abuse;

(2) Review existing federal and state laws addressing cyberstalking, harassment, privacy, and image-based abuse, and identify gaps in legal protections;

(3) Evaluate the policies and practices of digital platforms and technology companies regarding user safety, reporting mechanisms, and response to abuse;

(4) Identify best practices from other states and jurisdictions for regulating harmful technologies and strengthening survivor protections;

(5) Examine the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, on gender-based violence and youth safety;

(6) Consider opportunities for public-private partnerships to enhance accountability and user safety; and

(7) Recommend legislative and policy interventions to prevent technology-facilitated abuse, strengthen enforcement, and improve survivor services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General, Director of Human Services, Executive Director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Executive Director of the State Commission on the Status of Women, and Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

AG; Youth Digital Safety; Platform Accountability; Working Group; Report

Source: Hawaiʻi State Legislature · Retrieved Nov 8, 2026 · Source document ↗

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