California Assembly passes privacy bill for immigration aid

The California State Assembly has advanced a bill that would create new privacy protections for immigration service providers, a measure critics argue could significantly hinder investigative journalism into organizations that receive public funds. The legislation, Assembly Bill 2624, passed the Assembly on Wednesday and has been sent to the state Senate for consideration.

The bill, titled "Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers," is designed to protect individuals working with immigrants from documented threats, harassment, and doxxing. It would prohibit the online posting of a program participant’s personal information with the specific intent to incite a third party to cause imminent great bodily harm. The legislation’s author, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, a Democrat from Oakland, has stated that service providers have faced serious safety risks because of their work.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from independent journalist Nick Shirley, who has dubbed it the "Stop Nick Shirley Act." Shirley, who has reported on alleged fraud within taxpayer-funded nonprofits and healthcare facilities, argues the bill’s provisions could be used to silence legitimate...