California Law Adds Penalties for Undisclosed Paid Political Influencer Posts

California has approved new legislation that strengthens disclosure requirements for online influencers who are paid to publish political content. The law introduces financial penalties for creators who fail to identify paid political advertisements.

Under the new rules, influencers and other online creators can face fines of up to $5,000 for each violation and may be referred to law enforcement for possible misdemeanour charges. The changes build on existing California rules that required disclosure for paid posts related to state and local elections but previously lacked penalties.

California Expands Rules for Paid Political Influencer Content

The New York Times reported that the legislation, known as AB 1130, aims to close enforcement gaps around paid political promotions on social media.

The issue gained attention after political campaigns used influencers to reach voters online. The New York Times reported that billionaire Tom Steyer paid dozens of influencers during his campaign for California governor, and some posts initially lacked payment disclosures.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1130 as part of a broader group of election-related measures. The governor’s office said the package was designed to strengthen election protections.

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Marc Berman, said he introduced the measure after identifying uncertainty around how existing disclosure rules were applied and enforced.