Overview
- Nick Shirley, a conservative YouTuber, confronted California lawmakers at the Capitol on Thursday after claiming a pending bill would criminalize his reporting.
- AB 2624 would expand a state confidentiality program to immigration support providers and bar posting their home details or images online when used to threaten or harass.
- Violations could bring fines up to $10,000 or up to a year in jail, with penalties rising to $50,000 and felony charges if the exposure leads to bodily harm.
- Author Mia Bonta says the bill protects workers facing doxxing and death threats and argues it does not restrict reporting or First Amendment rights.
- Republicans, led by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, call it the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' and warn it could chill citizen investigations, while Snopes reports the bill does not mention journalism or Shirley and remains under Assembly review.