The California State Assembly Bill AB2624 was passed by the Privacy and Consumer Committee last week. Public opinion believes that the bill restricts journalists’ investigative rights and exposes them to legal risks when exposing social issues such as fraud.
Proposed by State Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, the bill aims to protect individuals providing support services to immigrant communities from doxxing, online harassment, and threats of vigilante justice. The text of the bill states that no person, businesses, or organizations shall disclose the personal information or images of government-designated immigrant support service providers, employees, volunteers, or other individuals residing at the same address, in a way that incites third parties to harm them or causes fear for their personal safety.
However, the introduction of AB2624 coincides with the massive exposure and prosecution of fraud in California’s end-of-life care and daycare facilities. Both federal and state authorities have taken action this month, arresting over a dozen suspects.
State Senator Carl D. DeMaio was the first to issue a warning. Through his personal website, he expressed concerns that AB2624 would restrict the dissemination of investigative videos, suppress investigative journalists, and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public oversight. He even referred to the bill as the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” Shirley conducted a series of investigations last month in San Diego and Los Angeles, exposing signs of fraud in several end-of-life care and daycare facilities; subsequently, CBS journalists also began investigating and found numerous fraudulent businesses operating in the Los Angeles area.
DeMaio pointed out that although AB2624 claims to protect immigrant organizations from “violent threats,” the bill applies to any group providing services to legal or illegal immigrants, effectively silencing citizen journalists exposing taxpayer-funded fraud and abuse.
AB2624 also stipulates that violators may face fines of up to $10,000 or up to one year in prison per offense; if harm is caused, it would be considered a felony, leading to more severe penalties.
Shirley posted on X on Monday (13th), stating that the proposal of AB2624 comes after his investigations into widespread fraud by some immigrant groups in the US had saved the country hundreds of millions of dollars; but under the bill, fraudulent daycare facilities would be protected and shielded from exposure.
He said, “The wife of California’s Attorney General (referring to proposer Mia Bonta) is trying to silence me and other journalists exposing fraudulent activities.”
Just as Bonta held a press conference on Thursday (9th) to announce the dismantling of an end-of-life care fraud syndicate involving $267 million, AB2624 received initial approval. The proposal still needs to be voted on by the California State Assembly and Senate before being sent to the governor’s desk.
This wave of public opinion has drawn the attention of SpaceX founder Elon Musk and California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton. Musk stated, “California legislators are trying to criminalize investigative actions against fraud.” Hilton believes that California should hold fraudsters accountable instead of using misdemeanor charges, imprisonment, and forced takedowns to suppress journalists.
In response to external criticisms, Mia Bonta stated that AB2624 is not intended to prevent news reporting or fraud investigations. Its aim is to prevent malicious actors from conducting doxing on immigrant service workers, and these actions must have a clear intent of threat or incitement to violence.