A bill introduced by California State Senator Richard Pan would require any person who operates a social media, as defined, Internet Web site with a physical presence in California to develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its web site.
According to the SB 1424, it would require the plan to include, among other things, a plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories, the utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories, providing outreach to social media users, and placing a warning on a news story containing false information.
The bill fails to identify who the “fact-checkers” would be.
In another bill by Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), Senate Bill 947 would authorize California’s schools to teach kids how to identify “fake news.”
SECTION 1.
Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read:
TITLE 14.5. False Information Strategic Plans
3085.
(a) Any person who operates a social media Internet Web site with physical presence in California shall develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Internet Web site.