The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on June 16 advanced SB 957, a bill by Sen. Perez that would require social media companies to notify users when federal agencies seek their personal information through administrative subpoenas, give users 30 days to respond or challenge, and report the requests to the attorney general.
According to the committee hearing transcript, supporters said the proposal is aimed at subpoena practices by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Testifying in support, Symphony Barby of ASEO U-Cal-Action said the bill responds to federal legal demands targeting people who criticized the government online, while Becca Cramer, speaking on behalf of Kaiser advocacy and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the measure would give users basic notice so they could challenge subpoenas.
The hearing record also says the bill would require companies to disclose what information was shared. One committee member said the measure seemed too focused on the current administration, adding that the author should consider guardrails if the bill moves forward.
The committee’s transcript did not clearly show the final roll-call tally in the segment reviewed, but the motion advanced the bill as amended to the Judiciary Committee. The record reviewed here also does not show whether any additional amendments were adopted beyond those referenced during the hearing.
The bill would add a new disclosure and notice regime for platforms and users in California if it continues through the legislative process.
