Sunday, September 20, 2026
NYT on California campaign censorship:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/business/media/california-political-ads-influencers-law.html soft paywall
the state has required the disclosures for paid posts about state- and local-level campaigns since 2023, but until now, content creators couldn’t be fined or prosecuted if they failed to comply. Now, California campaign finance regulators are empowered to impose fines on influencers of up to $5,000 for each violation or to refer those violations to law enforcement as potential misdemeanors.
Politicians and advocacy groups are increasingly turning to influencers as a way to reach younger, more online audiences and, in some cases, are paying them for their
Rather obviously this violates the 5th A right of self-incrimination.
Less obviously, it also violates three sections of the California constitution. Schuster, Ghafari and in re Anonymous Internet Speakers cases, I'll have to double checkc that last cite, under the Privacy clause of the Ca constitution.
Also of course Talley v California, NIFLA, Bonta, etc.
