Tell California Lawmakers to vote NO On CA SB 1228 "Online User ID Verification"
Tell California Lawmakers to vote NO On CA SB 1228 "Online User ID Verification"
The Issue
California Senate Bill 1228, "Large online platforms: user identity authentication" was proposed on February 15th, 2024. Its primary sponsor, California Senator Steve Padilla (R) of California District 18, desires to use this bill to combat misinformation on social media (especially election-focused information) by requiring social media platforms to verify their identities.
This bill specifically focuses on users with large social media platforms. "Large platforms" being described as users with over 25,000 followers or over 1,000 proven posted AI images over the lifetime of their accounts, who would be required to verify their identities with names, phone numbers, and email addresses; however at the higher tier of 100,000 followers or over 5,000 proven posted AI images over the lifetime of their accounts, the platform is required to seek verification through a user's government ID.
While this bill targets users with large follower bases, the precedent of a social media account requiring government ID verification is not one which should be allowed consideration in any way. As allowing even the precedent could lead to greater issues with internet privacy down the line. Especially in an era where several other states have already begun considering attaching important personal identifying information to platforms which already have great issues with keeping their user data secure. Not if the citizens of California want to maintain a free and anonymous internet. As a state with a great amount of influence over America's digital landscape, California must not become one of the steps towards losing internet anonymity.
Anonymous information sharing has always been crucial to the evolution of the internet as we know it. It allows people to safely share crucial information they otherwise might fear to share with the world without risking their livelihoods.
Sign this petition, call your state representatives, and tell all of California's government to reject CA SB 1228.
You can use the link below to find your California state representatives to contact them and voice your opinion on this bill.
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The Issue
California Senate Bill 1228, "Large online platforms: user identity authentication" was proposed on February 15th, 2024. Its primary sponsor, California Senator Steve Padilla (R) of California District 18, desires to use this bill to combat misinformation on social media (especially election-focused information) by requiring social media platforms to verify their identities.
This bill specifically focuses on users with large social media platforms. "Large platforms" being described as users with over 25,000 followers or over 1,000 proven posted AI images over the lifetime of their accounts, who would be required to verify their identities with names, phone numbers, and email addresses; however at the higher tier of 100,000 followers or over 5,000 proven posted AI images over the lifetime of their accounts, the platform is required to seek verification through a user's government ID.
While this bill targets users with large follower bases, the precedent of a social media account requiring government ID verification is not one which should be allowed consideration in any way. As allowing even the precedent could lead to greater issues with internet privacy down the line. Especially in an era where several other states have already begun considering attaching important personal identifying information to platforms which already have great issues with keeping their user data secure. Not if the citizens of California want to maintain a free and anonymous internet. As a state with a great amount of influence over America's digital landscape, California must not become one of the steps towards losing internet anonymity.
Anonymous information sharing has always been crucial to the evolution of the internet as we know it. It allows people to safely share crucial information they otherwise might fear to share with the world without risking their livelihoods.
Sign this petition, call your state representatives, and tell all of California's government to reject CA SB 1228.
You can use the link below to find your California state representatives to contact them and voice your opinion on this bill.
34
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Petition created on April 12, 2024