A California Assembly committee advanced SB 957 on Monday, moving a bill that would require social-media companies to notify users when the federal government seeks their personal information through an administrative subpoena.
At the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee hearing, the bill was described as requiring platforms to give users 30 days to respond or challenge a subpoena, disclose what information was shared and report the request to the attorney general. The transcript summary says the measure also would apply to federal subpoena activity involving DHS and ICE.
Supporters told the committee the proposal would add basic transparency protections for people using social platforms to engage in activism, political expression and other public speech. Becca Cramer, identified in the record as speaking with Kaiser advocacy on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said users need notice in order to challenge a subpoena. Symphony Barby, speaking for ASEO U-Cal-Action, said DHS has been sending administrative subpoenas targeting U.S. residents who criticize the government online. The committee record also cites a New York Times example involving subpoenas sent to Google, Meta, Discord and Reddit, and a Washington Post example of a subpoena target in Philadelphia.
The transcript summary says one lawmaker urged adding guardrails or even a sunset provision, arguing the bill appeared focused on one administration rather than a broader fix to how law enforcement interacts with private companies. The committee ultimately sent SB 957 to the Judiciary Committee, according to the roll call in the hearing record.
The available record does not include a final vote tally for the bill in the summary materials, and the hearing excerpt does not show any amendments beyond the committee’s action.
