{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/california-proposes-fines-for-influencers-who-hide-paid-political-posts","slug":"california-proposes-fines-for-influencers-who-hide-paid-political-posts","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/california-proposes-fines-for-influencers-who-hide-paid-political-posts","title":"California proposes fines for influencers who hide paid political posts","subtitle":"A new bill would allow the state to penalise content creators and campaigns up to $5,000 per violation for undisclosed payments","excerpt":"California is considering legislation to fine influencers and political campaigns up to $5,000 if they fail to disclose paid political content. The move follows concerns over transparency as campaigns increasingly use social media creators to reach voters, with some cases already under investigation.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-08-08T14:25:32.534Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-08-08T06:40:33.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-08T14:25:32.534Z","readTime":"5 min read","scores":{"trust":64,"critic":95,"hype":15,"notes":{"trust":"Trust 64: includes named strategist, specific $215 million figure, and Sacramento location, but only one independent report.","critic":"Critic 95: explains relevance, quotes sources, provides figures, outlines next steps, and is clearly written.","hype":"Hype 15: headline matches article content without sensational language."}},"tags":["#USPolitics","#SocialMediaRegulation","#PoliticalAdvertising","#InfluencerMarketing","#CampaignFinance"],"entities":["California","Texas","Shaka Smith","Tom Steyer","Marc Berman","Adam Schiff"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["California and Texas have passed policies requiring influencers to disclose paid political content, but enforcement has been limited.","A proposed California bill would allow fines of up to $5,000 per violation for undisclosed paid political posts by influencers or campaigns.","Influencer Shaka Smith disclosed he was paid by Tom Steyer’s campaign in a 2022 video supporting the candidate for governor.","No federal disclosure rules exist, though legislation has been introduced in Congress and the Federal Election Commission is under pressure to act."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"California is considering legislation that would fine social media influencers and political campaigns up to $5,000 if they do not disclose when a post has been paid for. The state already requires such disclosures, but enforcement has relied on court orders, which can take months. The new bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman, would give the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission the power to impose fines directly."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The proposal follows a 2022 case involving Los Angeles-based influencer Shaka Smith, who posted a video endorsing Tom Steyer for governor. Smith disclosed in the video and its caption that he had been paid by Steyer’s campaign. Steyer, a billionaire who spent over $215 million of his own money on his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, faced criticism for paying influencers, though other candidates in the race also used them."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Texas passed a similar rule in 2024, requiring content creators to include disclaimers when paid for political advertisements. New York is considering comparable legislation, while bills in Utah and Georgia failed in recent years. At the federal level, California Senator Adam Schiff introduced a bill last month, but it has not been voted on. Advocacy groups are also pressing the Federal Election Commission to create its own disclosure rules."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated digests mentioned the $215 million Tom Steyer spent on his 2022 gubernatorial campaign. The centre-rated digests also omitted this figure, except for the Washington Top News report, which carried the AP article in full. The left-rated digests and reports included the figure."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The right-rated digests did not mention the cases of Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi or the influencers paid to defend Ken Paxton. The centre-rated digests also left these out, except for the Washington Top News report. The left-rated digests and reports included both cases."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Courthouse News Service","url":"https://courthousenews.com","headline":"California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-08T06:40:33.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Amar Ujala","url":"https://amarujala.com/world/california-may-fine-content-creators-who-don-t-disclose-they-were-paid-to-post-about-politics-2026-08-08","headline":"US: Why Has California Tightened Its Grip on Content Creators? Paying for Political Posts Could Lead to Fines.","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-08T05:24:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Times of India","url":"https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/paid-to-persuade-california-may-fine-influencers-who-hide-political-campaign-payments/articleshow/133046802.cms","headline":"Paid to persuade? 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The AP report quoted Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, who said campaigns that do not engage influencers risk falling behind. It also detailed the case of Shaka Smith, including his disclosure and the impact he believed his posts had on his audience.","The AP report named Dustin Torreverde, a content creator who has not been paid for political posts, and quoted his concern that the bill could burden small creators. It also mentioned high-profile cases where influencers were paid without clear disclosures, including a 2022 video by Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi supporting John Fetterman and a 2023 campaign defending Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton."],"centre":["The nine centre-rated digests focused on the proposed fines and the role of influencers in political campaigns. Most led with the case of Shaka Smith and his disclosure, as well as the broader trend of campaigns paying smaller creators to reach niche audiences. The digests noted that California and Texas have passed disclosure policies, while other states are considering similar measures.","None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the specific figure of $215 million that Tom Steyer spent on his campaign, nor did they quote Mike Nellis or Dustin Torreverde. The Washington Top News report, which carried the AP article in full, included all these details."],"right":["The two right-rated digests led on the proposed fines and the potential burden on content creators. The Times of India digest noted the $5,000 fine and framed the story as a crackdown on influencers who hide payments. The Washington Times digest focused on the case of Shaka Smith but did not mention the amount Steyer spent on his campaign or the broader debate over federal disclosure rules."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":null,"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"mixed":2,"high":9,"unknown":1,"veryHigh":6},"ownershipDistribution":{"privateEquity":1,"mediaConglomerate":7,"billionaire":1,"independent":7},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Washington Top News","url":"https://wtop.com/national/2026/08/california-may-fine-content-creators-who-dont-disclose-they-were-paid-to-post-about-politics","publishedAt":"2026-08-08T04:00:00.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","count":2},{"country":"Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canada","count":2},{"country":"India","count":2},{"country":"Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States","count":1},{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1},{"country":"Orlando, Orange County, Florida, United 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