A proposal in the California Legislature that critics say could impact independent journalism is moving forward after Assembly Democrats declined to halt it earlier this week.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio voiced strong opposition after his motion to stop AB 2624 — introduced by Attorney General Rob Bonta — failed to gain enough support. The bill has drawn attention from supporters of citizen journalism, who argue it could restrict the ability to share video evidence of alleged fraud online.
DeMaio said the measure could discourage individuals from documenting and publishing wrongdoing, particularly in publicly funded programs. He framed the proposal as a shift away from addressing fraud itself and toward penalizing those who bring it to light.
The legislation comes at a time when independent content creators, including online investigative figures like Nick Shirley, have gained large audiences by posting firsthand footage of suspected misuse of government resources.
According to DeMaio, the bill’s language could open the door for certain groups to request the removal of recorded material — even in cases where the footage appears to show misconduct. He warned that financial penalties could also be imposed on individuals who publish such content.
His attempt to stop the bill was intended to prevent it from advancing further this year. However, with that effort unsuccessful, AB 2624 remains under consideration as it moves through the legislative process.
DeMaio said he plans to continue opposing the measure, arguing it raises concerns about transparency and First Amendment protections.
