Archive · 8 Aug 2026
California weighs fines for influencers hiding paid political posts
Influencers are people who make videos on the internet and have lots of fans.
Sometimes, politicians pay influencers to make videos that support them.
In California, politicians are thinking about a new rule.
The rule would fine influencers up to $5,000 if they do not tell their fans that they were paid.
Right now, California has a rule about this, but it is very hard to enforce because it takes a long time.
So lawmakers want to make it easier to give out fines.
This way, voters can know who is paying for the messages they see.
Many people think this is important for being honest and fair in elections.
But some small creators are worried.
They say big fines and lawyers would be too hard for them to afford.
Texas already has a similar rule, and New York is thinking about one too.
California lawmakers are considering fines of up to $5,000 per violation for content creators who fail to disclose campaign-paid posts.
California and Texas are the only two states with policies requiring content creators to disclose paid political posts.
Los Angeles influencer Shaka Smith disclosed his pay in two Instagram ads backing Tom Steyer for governor.
Sen. Adam Schiff introduced federal legislation on the issue last month, but it has not received a vote.
Small creators such as Dustin Torreverde say the bill's penalties and legal costs could unfairly burden them.
- Who
- California lawmakers led by Assemblymember Marc Berman, content creators including Shaka Smith, Dustin Torreverde and Adina Flores, and billionaire Tom Steyer
- What
- A proposed California bill would fine influencers up to $5,000 per violation for failing to disclose that they were paid by political campaigns for social media posts.
- When
- Weeks before voting ended in California's primary for governor; the federal bill was introduced last month
- Where
- California, with similar rules in Texas and consideration in New York
- Why
- To ensure voters know when campaigns are paying for the political messaging they see online
Transparency advocates
Small creators
Fines for undisclosed political posts
Transparency advocates
Voters have a right to know whether campaigns are paying for the political messaging they see; fines are needed because the current court process can take months to enforce the 2023 disclosure law.
Small creators
Penalties of up to $5,000 and the cost of hiring lawyers would be very difficult for small creators who are just trying to make a living.
Applying ad rules to content creators
Transparency advocates
Creators increasingly shape elections and are expected to play prominent roles in the midterms and 2028 presidential election, so disclosure rules for political advertisements should apply to them.
Small creators
Creators must remain transparent, but treating them like traditional advertisers through new penalties could impose an unfair burden, especially on very small creators.
- Proposed fine
- Up to $5,000 per violation
- Bill author
- Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman
- Enforcement body
- California Fair Political Practices Commission
- States with disclosure policies
- California and Texas
- California disclosure law
- Passed in 2023
- Texas rule
- Passed in 2024
- Federal legislation
- Introduced by Sen. Adam Schiff; no vote yet
- Tom Steyer campaign spending
- More than $215 million of his own money