California Tightens Disclosure Rules for Influencers Paid to Post Political Content

California is putting more pressure on influencers to disclose when political posts are paid for.

Under the newly signed AB 1130, creators paid by campaign committees to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure can face administrative, civil, or criminal penalties if they fail to clearly disclose the payment. Regulators can issue fines of up to $5,000 per violation. 

California already required disclosures for this type of political content, but the new law gives the Fair Political Practices Commission stronger enforcement tools. 

The change comes as campaigns increasingly use social media creators to reach voters in formats that can look more like ordinary posts than traditional political advertising.