California’s Fresh Legislation Targets Influencers for Non-Disclosure of Political Advertisements
California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted new legislation that strengthens requirements for online influencers who receive compensation to promote political content.
Previously, California mandated that influencers must disclose paid political endorsements, but lacked any real penalties for those who failed to comply. Other states, like Texas, have similar disclosure laws and more are considering implementing their own.
The newly signed bill, known as AB 1130, empowers regulators to impose fines of up to $5,000 for each instance of non-disclosure. Additionally, they have the authority to escalate cases to law enforcement for potential criminal charges.
Notably, billionaire Tom Steyer, who ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in California earlier this year, engaged numerous influencers to promote his campaign, many of whom initially neglected to disclose their financial backing.
This legislation was part of a larger set of bills aimed at safeguarding elections from perceived interference associated with President Donald Trump. Assemblyman Marc Berman, a Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, stated he introduced the measure due to a realization of existing legal ambiguities regarding enforcement.
