This week Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 587, a first-of-its-kind social media transparency measure. Earlier this summer, CWLC Executive Director Betsy Butler joined Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), community leaders, and civil rights organizations at a press conference to advance the passage of this measure. AB 587 will establish greater transparency from social media platforms by requiring them to file semiannual reports with the California attorney general that publicly disclose their policies regarding hate speech, disinformation, harassment, and extremism on their platforms. The signed bill also requires that these platforms report data on their enforcement of these policies.  

Unfortunately, CWLC receives many calls about the harmful and untrue content women and young girls frequently experience online. We are thankful for Assemblymember Gabriel’s leadership on this measure and encouraged by this monumental step holding social media companies responsible for their platform’s content. 

Read more about AB 587 here. 

Photo courtesy of Don Thompson / Associated Press