Archive — US — techcrunch
New California law will penalize influencers who don’t disclose political ads
California's new law requires influencers to disclose paid political posts, enforcing fines up to $5,000 for violations. Previously, there were no penalties for non-disclosure. Governor Newsom signed this as part of efforts against election interference, especially following undisclosed political ads during recent campaigns. This aims to clarify existing regulations around influencer participation in politics.
Key points
- California introduces law AB 1130 to penalize influencers who do not disclose paid political advertisements.
- Fines can reach $5,000 per violation; regulators can refer cases to law enforcement for misdemeanors.
- Law addresses previous ambiguity about disclosure rules in political campaigning.
- Influencer practices were highlighted by cases such as Tom Steyer's campaign, where many influencers failed to disclose payments.
- The bill is part of a broader effort to protect election integrity from perceived interference.
Why it matters
- The trend of influencer marketing in politics has been increasing, highlighting the need for clearer regulatory frameworks.
- Other states like Texas have also enacted similar disclosure requirements, indicating a growing movement towards accountability in political advertising.
- The legislation aligns with the 2025 IT Trend of increasing regulation on digital platforms to ensure transparency and combat misinformation.
California's legislation marks a significant step toward enforcing accountability in political advertising by influencers, reflecting a broader trend in digital marketing regulation and election integrity.