Top headlines of the week

1. AI Fake Nudes Are Now a Frightening Reality for Teens
2. The Trauma of Testifying in a Sexual Assault Trial
3. Alleged sexual misconduct by lawyers isn't uncommon. But facing punishment is tricky

4. Bay Area victims advocate groups rally to push for state funding

    

As if growing up in the digital age wasn’t tough enough, high school and middle school girls now have to deal with the rise of AI “nudification” apps. They are just as bad as they sound. 

Examples of students generating so-called “deepfakes” have cropped up in states across the country, including New Jersey, California, and Washington. In each case, AI-powered platforms were used to create sexually explicit pictures of female students. This is a form of illegal child sexual abuse, according to federal law enforcement, and unsurprisingly it can have a devastating impact on the subject of the generated images. Washington, South Dakota and Louisiana have all passed legislation targeting AI-generated nudes of minors, and similar legislation is under consideration in other states.

The New York Times spoke with Devorah Heitner, the author of “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World,” about both the impact on young people harmed by this practice and how we ought to deal with perpetrators, who in this case can be as young as 12 or 13 years old.

The Manhattan district attorney is looking to re-try disgraced former producer Harvey Weinstein after his 2020 sex crimes conviction was overturned by a New York court. Read an advocate’s account of what it’s like for sexual assault survivors to testify in court – not once, but twice.

Lawyers can play a role in bringing abusers to account – but NPR is out with a new piece about how alleged sexual misconduct by lawyers isn’t all that uncommon. 

And if you’re a consistent reader of this newsletter, you know that survivor services in California – and around the country – are facing steep funding cuts due to dwindling federal dollars. Advocates and policymakers rallied in front of San Jose City Hall last week to push for at least $100 million in state funding to compensate for the lost money. Two of Impact Labs’ partner nonprofits, Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments and Center for Domestic Peace, helped drive turnout to the action.

Weekly nonprofit news

Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments

Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments is hiring for two positions. The organization is looking for a bi-lingual community case manager to work directly with survivors of intimate partner violence. They are also seeking a community education advocate who will advance the organization's community-facing work, including education efforts and public awareness campaigns. Click here to learn more.

Tri-Valley Haven

Mark your calendar for Tri-Valley Haven’s annual Backpack Distribution Event, which will take place on July 30 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at 444 Black Avenue in Pleasanton. The organization will be providing backpacks pre-filled with school supplies for children residing in the following locations: Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and Sunol. 

Leading up to the event, the organization is also soliciting donations of pre-filled backpacks through July 19. Learn more here.

Tri-Valley Haven will be participating in the upcoming Juneteenth celebration at Bankhead Plaza in Livermore on June 15. The organization will be there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to share information about their services and how they support survivors.