California proposes fines for influencers who hide paid political posts
A new bill would allow the state to penalise content creators and campaigns up to $5,000 per violation for undisclosed payments
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Shaka Smith, a vegan influencer who's politically an independent, poses for a portrait at his fast-food restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photograph: Associated Press News (embedded from source)
What this story says
- 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.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 17 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 1 of the 18 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
64/100
Craft
95/100
Hype
15/100
18 sources · methodology
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.
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.
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.
What the coverage left out
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.
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.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 8 Aug 2026, 14:30, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
6 rated outlets
- The six left-rated digests and the Associated Press report led on the proposed fines and the broader debate over transparency in political advertising. 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
9 rated outlets
- 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
2 rated outlets
- 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.
Read it at the source
18 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
6- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Courthouse News Service in a new tab)
Courthouse News Service
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens The Washington Post in a new tab)
The Washington Post — is The Washington Post biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens The Toronto Star in a new tab)
The Toronto Star — is The Toronto Star biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Bangor Daily News in a new tab)
Bangor Daily News — is Bangor Daily News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Associated Press News in a new tab)
Associated Press News — is Associated Press News biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
9- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens City News in a new tab)
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Winnipeg Free Press in a new tab)
Winnipeg Free Press — is Winnipeg Free Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Wral News in a new tab)
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Houston Chronicle in a new tab)
Houston Chronicle
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens KSAT 12 in a new tab)
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Times Union in a new tab)
Times Union — is Times Union biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Click on Detroit in a new tab)
Click on Detroit — is Click on Detroit biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens WKMG in a new tab)
Right
2- Paid to persuade? California may fine influencers who hide political campaign payments (opens Times of India in a new tab)
Times of India — is Times of India biased? Our profile of this outlet
- California may fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post about politics (opens Washington Times in a new tab)
Washington Times — is Washington Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
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