Bill > SB771

This bill introduces new legal provisions targeting social media platforms that potentially enable or contribute to civil rights violations through their content algorithms. Specifically, the bill applies to large social media platforms generating over $100 million annually and creates a framework for civil penalties when these platforms are found to aid, abet, or contribute to violations of existing civil rights statutes related to violence, intimidation, or discrimination based on characteristics like race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. The bill responds to documented increases in hate-motivated harm, including rising anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Jewish, and anti-Islamic incidents, as well as violence against women. Under the proposed law, platforms could face civil penalties ranging from $500,000 to $1 million per violation, with potential doubled penalties if the victim is a minor. The bill emphasizes that its intent is not to regulate speech but to prevent platforms from knowingly facilitating civil rights violations through their content recommendation algorithms. Notably, the bill includes provisions declaring any attempted waiver of its provisions void and includes a severability clause to protect the law's overall validity if any specific part is challenged. The new legal provisions are set to become operative on January 1, 2027.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Education, Justice

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