Press Freedom and Online Speech

California legislators have introduced AB 2624, a bill authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta that would shield the home addresses of immigration services workers and create civil and criminal penalties for online doxxing intended to incite violence. Supporters say the measure is modeled on protections already used for reproductive health workers and is intended to stop targeted harassment and threats against people who provide or administer immigration-related services. Critics, including independent journalist Nick Shirley and high-profile social media commentators, contend the bill’s removal and penalty provisions could be used to chill investigative reporting and hide evidence of fraud in taxpayer-funded programs.