Bill > SB771

This bill aims to hold large social media platforms legally accountable for content that potentially violates existing California laws protecting individuals from hate crimes, intimidation, and discrimination. Specifically, the bill applies to social media platforms generating over $100 million annually and introduces civil penalties for platforms that violate sections of the Penal and Civil Codes through their content algorithms or by aiding and abetting harmful content. The penalties range from $500,000 to $1 million depending on the violation's intent, with potential doubling if the victim is a minor. The bill's legislative findings highlight alarming statistics about increases in hate crimes, antisemitic incidents, and harmful content targeting vulnerable populations like LGBTQ+ individuals and women. The legislation is grounded in legal principles of shared liability, drawing from California tort law cases that establish that entities can be held responsible for contributing to harmful actions, even if they are not the direct perpetrators. The bill also explicitly states that a platform's algorithmic content delivery can be considered an independent act, and platforms are presumed to have knowledge of how their artificial intelligence and algorithms function. Ultimately, the bill seeks to create stronger deterrents and legal mechanisms to protect Californians from online harassment and discrimination.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB771