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California Internet Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation, Consumer Law, Small Claims and Internet Law for California on
Q: Can I prevent unauthorized use of my Docusign signature from a past relationship?

1 1/2 years ago, my ex-boyfriend had solar panels installed on my home through a business owned by his childhood friend. He used my signature without permission by accessing my Docusign account, which he had set up on his phone. This was initially to help me sign documents related to my deceased... View More

Christie Dudley
Christie Dudley
answered on Nov 4, 2025

It is important for you to carefully consider how your authorization account can be accessed. That said, although there is a challenge to deal with this, you are not liable for any debts you did not agree to. A falsified Docusign signature is (more or less) legally the same as a forged ink... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Communications Law, Internet Law and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: Is it legal to upload AI-generated educational videos with or without watermark on YouTube?

I'm planning to use Google's NotebookLM to create educational videos from documents or notes and upload them to YouTube. I am wondering about the legal implications of uploading these videos. Would it be okay legally if I upload the videos with the NotebookLM watermark, or if I remove it... View More

Sarah Teresa Haddad
Sarah Teresa Haddad
answered on Oct 27, 2025

It is safer to reference in the videos the original source material that was used as input into Google's Notebook LM to create the AI generated videos, rather than referencing the AI tool used to create the videos (Google Notebook LM).

The reason for this, is that if there is ever a...
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Q: What actions can I take for wrongful termination and compromised phone at Amazon? Looking for advice on suspected hacking, unresolved termination appeal, lawyer communication issues.

In February 2023, I was wrongfully terminated from Amazon shortly after returning to work from an arm injury. My manager abused his authority by assigning me to a manual decant station while others were assigned to automatic stations. I reported him to HR and was able to appeal the decision. During... View More

Brad S Kane
Brad S Kane
answered on Oct 20, 2025

Unfortunately, the situation sounds like a scam. Amazon fires you and then retains a UK lawyer to represent you against Amazon in California, which then is going to pay you $50 million as a settlement. (A very high settlement for this type of claim.)

You may have a disability discrimination...
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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Juvenile Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: Concern about the legal implications of reported Snapchat content as a minor.

As a minor, I submitted a data recovery application to Snapchat to recover deleted memories. After submitting the application, I received emails from Snapchat stating that my account was reported for violating guidelines around sexual content and inappropriate content involving minors. They... View More

Jeremy Malcolm
Jeremy Malcolm
answered on Oct 5, 2025

Snapchat is legally required to have your photos reviewed by a human moderator before sending them to law enforcement, otherwise it prevents them from being used in court. Thus assuming that the photos are yours and the human moderator can see that, it is unlikely they would report them. However in... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Internet Law, Gov & Administrative Law and Civil Rights for California on
Q: Legal implications of AI-generated art flagged on DeviantArt

I am a content creator on DeviantArt, based in California, where I sell AI-generated cartoon images of mermaids, most of which are naked. Recently, DeviantArt took down around 20 out of 100 images I uploaded, stating they contain characters that are under 18 or may canonically be under 18. I did... View More

Jeremy Malcolm
Jeremy Malcolm
answered on Sep 22, 2025

I am sorry that you are dealing with the consequences of moral panic over artwork. You are not the only one; many social media users are currently being wrongly flagged as child abusers over either artwork or other innocent materials such as family photos.

Thankfully you do have legal...
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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: Is it illegal for a 16-year-old in CA to roleplay NSFW with an AI chatbot?

I am concerned about whether it is illegal for a 16-year-old, almost 17, living in California, to engage in NSFW or explicit roleplaying with an AI chatbot on the app CHAI. The app requires users to change settings to confirm they are 18+ before introducing NSFW content. There has been no legal... View More

Jeremy Malcolm
Jeremy Malcolm
answered on Sep 12, 2025

No, it is not illegal for the 16 year old to engage in explicit roleplay with an AI chatbot, though it is a violation of the terms of service of the app for them to do so. Therefore their account could be removed if they were reported to the company as being underage, but they could not be charged... View More

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Q: What can I do about harassment from a tenant without a lease in CA?

I have been harassed by a tenant for the last eight months. I don't have a lease in my current living situation. The harassment involves being stalked, both physically and online through my phone, as well as verbal harassment. I've been able to file incident reports, but the landlord... View More

Louis George Fazzi
Louis George Fazzi
answered on Aug 17, 2025

You may be able to get civil harassment restraining orders against the person who is harassing you. To see if you are eligible, go to the website that has the court forms necessary for you to fill out. They will explain whether or not you are eligible. https://courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/court-forms.... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Internet Law and Insurance Defense for California on
Q: Can I get in trouble for recording a call with an insurance agent without their knowledge?

An insurance agent from the insurer of the person who hit my car told me over the phone that they wouldn’t cover the damages because the driver was an Amazon Flex driver. I requested an email explaining this, but he refused, saying they sent a letter stating they wouldn’t cover it, although the... View More

Adam Stoddard
Adam Stoddard
answered on Jul 29, 2025

California is a two party consent state. Recording someone without their consent is illegal and can result in criminal charges, including fines and imprisonment, and can also lead to civil lawsuits from those whose conversations were illegally recorded. Additionally, if you attempt to use the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Immigration Law, Tax Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: Does trading options as an F1 student violate visa regulations?

I am an F1 student engaged in trading options in my Robinhood brokerage account, specifically using strategies like cash secured puts and covered calls. I conduct approximately 5-6 trades per week, resulting in 20-24 trades per month, and earn about $1,000 monthly from this activity. My day job... View More

Julia Sverdloff
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Julia Sverdloff
answered on Jun 7, 2025

Frequent options trading that generates consistent income—like 20–24 trades a month and $1,000 in profit—can be viewed as active income, which may violate F-1 visa rules prohibiting unauthorized employment or self-employment.

While occasional investing is allowed, trading at this...
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2 Answers | Asked in Gaming, Banking and Internet Law for California on
Q: CashApp account locked despite verification and no response; seeking resolution.

I use CashApp to gamble and receive money through Bitcoin. My account was locked three weeks ago, despite having completed the verification process as requested. CashApp created a case number but has not responded to my inquiries or provided any updates. I’m concerned about the delay and its... View More

Nicholas Arthur Matlach
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answered on Apr 16, 2025

Typically, platforms like CashApp reserve the right to suspend accounts if they suspect fraudulent activity or violations of their terms, which may include using the service for gambling if it is prohibited. Additionally, the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq.) requires financial... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Civil Litigation and Internet Law for California on
Q: How to remove old comments from Blogger showing full name?

I left two comments on a now-abandoned blog hosted by Blogger when I was a minor. These comments, which show my full name, appear in Google search results and affect my personal and professional life. I have contacted Google and Blogger, but they require a court order to remove them, and attempts... View More

Jeremy Malcolm
Jeremy Malcolm
answered on Mar 22, 2025

You may have more rights depending on where you live. If you live in California, the UK, or the European Union, you can request removal of your personal information. Additionally, even if you live elsewhere, if you were under 13 at the time then you may be able to get the content removed under... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in International Law, Employment Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: possible scam,remote jobs,international,online transactions

So sorry for being so rude , I’m actually Chinese and live in china now. I have taken a remote job on this app called Upwor*Talent since June. I work for a company as their translator.

Oddly, they chose to work via telegram , but not on Upwor*Talent, where I was recruited.I was told that... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jul 1, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about the situation you're in. Based on the details you've provided, this has several hallmarks of a common online job scam. Here are some key points and advice:

1. Red flags of a potential scam:

- Moving communication off the original platform...
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2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law, International Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: my remote company is holding my payment and asking me to pay ~$42k for unfreeze my account. Can you help me with this?

This is remote work paid in cryptocurrency. I followed their instructions to withdraw my payment. Now they claimed that I did it wrong and freeze my account. Now they want me to pay $42k for unfreezing my account and withdrawal all the money, total ~$87k. They never shared the company policy, and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 21, 2024

1. Legitimate companies do not freeze accounts and demand large sums of money to "unfreeze" them. This is a common tactic used by scammers.

2. The lack of transparent company policies and the gradual revealing of "rules" is another warning sign of fraudulent activity....
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1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property, International Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: The film festival refused to remove information about my film when I asked them to.

On the website of the European Film Festival there is information about my film, which I submitted to the competition. The film was not shown at the film festival, but information about the film is on the website. I asked to remove information about the film from the film festival website, but they... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 18, 2024

Under California law, the film festival's refusal to remove information about your film from their website when you requested them to do so could potentially be addressed through a few different avenues:

1. Publicity rights: In California, individuals have the right to control the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law and Sexual Harassment for California on
Q: Can i sue my blackmailer?

It started On Friday May 31 2024 I got a follow On instagram saying i saw you on (Bumble) Dating App So i went along with it We were chatting and she asked for nudes exchange i was hesitant but said ok so we exchanged and she asked for my number and made a pic of me and my private part saying i... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 3, 2024

I apologize that you are going through this difficult and stressful situation. What you are describing is a common online blackmail scam. Here are a few key points and suggestions:

1. This is a crime and you are the victim. The scammer is engaging in blackmail and extortion, which are...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for California on
Q: I am scammed to transferred over $500k to a platform. I tried to withdraw, but, my account is frozen. What are my opti

I was contacted by a woman on LINE (a social media) and told me how to make trades. This happened from early April mid May. I wire transferred money from my banks to Strike and bought BTC to transfer to Polyxxo, which is the scam platform. Can any lawyer help?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 30, 2024

I'm so sorry to hear that you've been the victim of such a significant scam. Losing over $500k is devastating. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Report the crime to law enforcement immediately. Contact your local police department and file a report. Also report it to the...
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2 Answers | Asked in Education Law, Communications Law, Internet Law and Civil Rights for California on
Q: Is it legal for a high school counselor to take a video of your message logs between you and another student?

I was suspected of cheating so my high school counselor interrogated and put me in a room for 8 hours. They made me admit that I gave out tests to my friends and asked to pull up the messages. They basically demanded me to show them who i send the test to and i agreed so they took my phone and... View More

Michelle Alissa Ball
Michelle Alissa Ball
answered on May 15, 2024

In California it is illegal for any government entity to obtain electronic data unless a warrant is obtained and/or the access fits within certain legal parameters, even in a public school. However, if you agreed to give them access, they can retrieve the information.... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Education Law, Communications Law, Internet Law and Civil Rights for California on
Q: Is it legal for a high school counselor to take a video of your message logs between you and another student?

I was suspected of cheating so my high school counselor interrogated and put me in a room for 8 hours. They made me admit that I gave out tests to my friends and asked to pull up the messages. They basically demanded me to show them who i send the test to and i agreed so they took my phone and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 15, 2024

In California, there are several laws and regulations that protect students' privacy rights. While school officials have some authority to investigate suspected cheating, their actions must be reasonable and respect students' rights.

1. California Education Code 49073.6 limits the...
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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Civil Litigation, Internet Law and Gaming for California on
Q: Is it false advertising if a company said they wouldn't censor their game but then censors it on day one with a patch?

SHIFT UP. And Sony Interactive Entertainment explicitly said that the game Stellar blade would not be censored. Most of the physical copies are but the digital ones are not. In fact there was a day one patch to censor the costumes and sometimes it was forcibly thrust upon people. I'm not sure... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 11, 2024

Based on the information provided, there may be potential legal issues related to false advertising and deceptive business practices. However, the specific circumstances and details of the case would need to be carefully examined to determine if any laws were actually violated.

Here are a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Gaming, Internet Law, Small Claims and White Collar Crime for California on
Q: How can I word my email to them to get them to pay me?

I completed a deposit offer on freecash.com to a crypto casino. The offer is hosted by adscend media and stated "deposit $25 and place your first wager and receive $59." I completed the offer exactly to instructions but they are refusing to pay me. So I lost my $25 plus the extra I sent... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 11, 2024

If you believe you have fulfilled all the requirements of the promotional offer but have not been paid as promised, I would recommend the following steps:

1. Gather all documentation related to the offer, including screenshots of the offer terms, proof of your deposit and wager, and any...
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