California’s New Privacy Legislation Faces Backlash
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing significant backlash for endorsing a contentious privacy bill, which critics, particularly from the GOP, have labeled the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” This legislation seems to set the stage for a possible First Amendment conflict.
The bill was originally introduced by Assembly Member Mia Bonta (D-Calif.) back in February, following alarm about escalating threats directed at immigration service providers.
Newsom highlighted instances where Somali daycare providers in San Diego encountered harassment after conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley visited to investigate allegations of government subsidy misuse.
California Republicans have been vocal in their disapproval of the bill, calling for federal intervention to halt its implementation before it becomes effective on October 1, 2027.
This legislation seeks to broaden the scope of California’s Safe at Home program, extending its protections to providers of immigration support services. Since 1999, this program has helped secure the addresses and personal information of domestic violence survivors, victims of elder abuse, and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care.
While the text of the bill does not specifically mention Shirley or journalism, Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-Calif.) expressed concerns that the law could obstruct citizen journalists from exposing fraud by prohibiting the public dissemination of personal details of immigration workers.
DeMaio announced plans to urge the Department of Justice to step in and challenge the legislation.
“I ultimately believe that this has to go to court because clearly our politicians don’t care about our First Amendment rights. This is a troubling trend,” he mentioned, voicing his thoughts to the New York Post.
In response, Bonta emphasized that the current atmosphere surrounding immigration has made service providers feel threatened.
“Our immigrant service providers are living in fear due to extremists trying to vilify the essential work they do and the communities they serve,” Bonta stated on Saturday. “This is an unacceptable outcome of the prevailing anti-immigrant rhetoric.”
The legislation has also captured attention in Washington, where U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) criticized the bill, suggesting it might more accurately be termed the “Protect Fraudsters Act.”
