What to Know About the New California Privacy Law that Became a Flashpoint over Free Speech
The law lets eligible workers use substitute addresses and adds civil penalties for publishing their personal information to incite harm.
- On August 22, 2026, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2624, expanding the Safe at Home program to protect immigration service providers, employees, and volunteers from targeted harassment and doxing.
- Assemblymember Mia Bonta authored the measure following reports of aid workers being "doxxed, harassed, followed and filmed at their workplaces," with threats extending to their families at home.
- Participants may use a substitute address through the Secretary of State to keep home locations confidential; the law imposes at least $4,000 in civil damages for intentionally posting personal information to incite imminent harm.
- Conservative critics, including GOP Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, dubbed the legislation the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," alleging it threatens independent journalists and violates First Amendment protections.
- Provisions take effect October 1, 2027, though Bonta maintains the law does not prohibit legitimate investigative journalism, noting the final text removed references to the state's journalist shield law to clarify scope.
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What to know about the new California privacy law that became a flashpoint over free speech
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Starting next year, Californians who provide legal aid, counseling or other types of assistance to immigrants will be eligible for a privacy program that keeps their addresses confidential and out of public records. Gov. Gavin Newsom approved this latest expansion of California’s Safe […] The post What to know about the new California privacy law that became a flas…
Gov. Newsom Signs Law Shielding Immigration Aid Workers from Doxing Threats | EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More
Gavin Newsom (Rich Pedroncelli-AP) *(Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media) California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Aug. 22 designed to protect immigration service providers and humanitarian volunteers from targeted harassment, doxing and violence. Authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Assembly Bill (AB) 2624, the Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers Act, establishes an address confidential…
Gov. Newsom signs law shielding immigration aid workers from doxing threats
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Aug. 22 designed to protect immigration service providers and humanitarian volunteers from targeted harassment, doxing and violence. Authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Assembly Bill (AB) 2624, the Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers Act, establishes an address confidentiality program modeled after California’s Safe at Home program. “AB 2624 is fundamentally about freedom — the…
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