Personal rights: liability: social media platforms.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Vetoed
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill establishes liability for social media platforms in California if they use algorithms that promote or facilitate violations of state civil rights laws. Specifically, it targets platforms that aid, abet, or conspire in actions based on protected characteristics like race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or immigration status. The bill creates a new title in the Civil Code to address this issue and allows for civil penalties of up to $1 million for intentional or reckless violations, potentially doubling the penalty if a minor is affected.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘social media platform’ as platforms generating over $100 million in annual revenue.
- Holds social media platforms liable for using algorithms that contribute to civil rights violations.
- Allows for civil penalties of up to $1 million for intentional or reckless violations, and up to $2 million for violations involving minors.
- Establishes that a platform’s algorithm deployment is separate from the content relayed.
- Requires platforms to demonstrate knowledge of their algorithms' operations.
- Provides that any waiver of the bill’s provisions is void and unenforceable.
- States that the provisions of the bill are severable.
- Sets an operative date of January 1, 2027.
Who is affected
- Social Media Platforms
- Users of Social Media Platforms
- California Residents
- Technology Companies
Bill text
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Sponsors
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9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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