Overview
- The California State Assembly voted 57-19 this week to pass AB 2624, which would add designated immigrant-service providers, employees and volunteers to the state's Safe at Home privacy program.
- Under the bill’s text, the law would bar posting online the personal information or images of designated immigrant-service providers or household members and create civil remedies for violations.
- Lawmakers amended the bill to limit criminal liability to situations where someone publishes material with the specific intent to incite a third person to cause imminent great bodily harm.
- Opponents, including independent journalist Nick Shirley and Republican lawmakers, say the civil rules could still expose reporters to lawsuits and hinder undercover fraud investigations, and they have criticized the bill’s sponsorship by Assemblymember Mia Bonta as a conflict of interest.
- If the State Senate advances AB 2624 it would go to Gov. Gavin Newsom for signature; supporters say the change will protect workers from doxxing and threats while critics warn it could chill public watchdog reporting and limit scrutiny of organizations that receive public funds.