California Politics: The latest attempt to regulate social media

How a lot accountability do social media platforms bear when individuals use them to promote youngsters a lethal dose of fentanyl, pay youngsters to livestream strip teases or recruit minors who’re offered for intercourse?

These are questions I count on California lawmakers to grapple with this yr as they embark on their newest effort to manage social media. The controversy will play out amid deliberation on the U.S. Supreme Courtroom over whether or not federal legislation shields platforms from legal responsibility for manipulating what customers see.

After a failed effort final yr to move a sweeping measure to permit extra lawsuits towards social networks for hurt brought on to youngsters, lawmakers have come again this yr with payments that take a extra focused method.

They’re specializing in among the most scary makes use of of apps many teenagers report utilizing “nearly consistently.” One invoice by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) would maintain social media firms answerable for selling the unlawful sale of fentanyl to youth and focusing on them with offering content material that would end in consuming problems or suicide.

One other being launched at the moment by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) would require that websites completely delete images and movies of minors upon their request, and in addition permit lawsuits towards social media platforms for options that facilitate business sexual exploitation of minors.

“The present authorized system isn’t defending our youngsters,” Wicks advised me.

“It’s one thing we’ve to sort out. I do know they don’t wish to be held answerable for what occurs on their platforms, however as any dad or mum is aware of, we’ve to take extra motion. What we’re doing is just not working.”

The motion in Sacramento comes because the U.S. Supreme Courtroom is about to listen to arguments subsequent week in a case that can check the authorized boundaries for regulating social media. The case stems from the demise of 23-year-old Cal State Lengthy Seashore pupil Nohemi Gonzalez, who was killed in a terrorist assault in Paris in 2015. Her household sued Google, alleging the corporate ought to be answerable for supporting terrorism by creating algorithms that beneficial Islamic State movies to YouTube customers.

At subject in Gonzalez vs. Google is whether or not a federal legislation that shields on-line platforms from legal responsibility for his or her customers’ posts additionally protects them after they make focused suggestions, similar to serving up movies based mostly on customers’ pursuits. The case may upend the authorized framework for regulating social media throughout the nation, and on the coronary heart of it are a California firm and a California household.

Hello, I’m Laurel Rosenhall, The Instances’ Sacramento bureau chief. You may learn extra about California’s newest try to manage social media on this article I wrote.

Now right here’s the remainder of the week’s information in California politics:

Feinstein makes it official

Anybody listening to California politics over the previous few months may see it coming, and this week Sen. Dianne Feinstein made it official: She’s retiring.

At age 89, the oldest U.S. senator who additionally blazed trails for ladies throughout greater than 50 years in politics introduced that she plans to serve out the remainder of her time period however not run for reelection subsequent yr.

Retirement of California’s longest-serving senator marks the tip of an period, and units up an epic contest to interchange her. Already, two members of Congress — Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff — have launched campaigns for Feinstein’s seat. Others, together with Rep. Barbara Lee, are contemplating it. Right here’s a take a look at who’s in and who’s out together with another potential candidates, wild playing cards and lengthy photographs.

Feinstein made historical past many instances over throughout her boundary-breaking profession. She rose to energy after two of her colleagues in San Francisco Metropolis Corridor have been assassinated, and went on to turn into the primary feminine mayor of San Francisco and the primary girl senator from California. She led on environmental safety and gun management coverage, and is now the longest-serving feminine senator in American historical past. I’ve actually loved wanting by way of these historic images marking key moments in her profession — make sure to test them out.

And listed here are some takes and recollections from Instances opinion writers:

Affirmative motion ban at subject in pupil funding struggle

A long time after California voters accepted a ban on affirmative motion, Gov. Gavin Newsom is citing the state legislation as a hindrance to giving colleges further funding to assist Black college students, writes Instances reporter Mackenzie Mays. However some civil rights advocates are pushing again, saying Newsom has in any other case been keen to tackle a authorized struggle for causes he’s enthusiastic about, together with homosexual marriage and gun management.

Teams together with the NAACP and Al Sharpton‘s Nationwide Motion Community requested the governor for state funding to go particularly to Black public college college students, who persistently fare worse academically than their friends. What Newsom provided in his state finances after assembly with advocates, although, doesn’t point out race. As an alternative, his proposal directs extra funding on the state’s poorest colleges and provides accountability necessities for low performing college students.

At a information convention Thursday at a Sacramento-area college, Newsom stated that though he’s unafraid to “push the envelope,” this time is completely different as a result of the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Courtroom is poised to finish affirmative motion at faculties.

“We’ve checked out it. We’ve pushed. I guarantee you,” Newsom stated. “We’re making an attempt to do our greatest in a really tough and difficult surroundings.”

Learn extra on this article in regards to the battle that highlights California’s long-standing failure to make sure that Black college students be taught and carry out at charges just like their friends, even a decade after overhauling schooling funding to direct extra money towards serving to deprived college students.

Maintaining with the Capitol

Editorial: After all the California lawyer normal’s spouse shouldn’t oversee his finances

A flurry of information tales in latest days uncovered the questionable appointment of Assemblymember Mia Bonta as chair of a finances subcommittee that can suggest funding for the state Division of Justice, which is run by her partner, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta. The correct response would have been a direct mea culpa from these concerned within the choice and a promise to treatment the obvious battle of curiosity, writes The Instances’ editorial board. However as an alternative, Meeting Speaker Anthony Rendon selected to gaslight those that raised issues.

Fearing return of dry situations, Newsom seeks to waive environmental protections in delta

As January’s drenching storms have given option to an unseasonably dry February, Newsom is searching for to waive environmental guidelines within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in an effort to retailer extra water in reservoirs — a transfer that’s drawing heated criticism from environmental advocates who say the motion will imperil struggling fish populations.

California Democrats suggest $25 minimal wage for well being employees

New laws backed by labor unions would mandate a statewide $25 minimal wage for well being employees and assist staffers, seemingly establishing a pitched battle with hospitals, nursing houses and dialysis clinics. The invoice by Sen. María Elena Durazo would require well being amenities and residential well being companies to provide raises to many assist staff, together with nurse technicians, housekeepers, safety guards, meals employees and laundry suppliers.

Free from charges? California invoice combats ‘junk’ charges for all the things from live performance tickets to groceries

California lawmakers launched laws aimed toward preventing hidden or “junk” charges for all the things from live performance tickets to groceries. The invoice by Democratic Sen. Invoice Dodd would prohibit firms from hiding obligatory charges which have turn into frequent within the journey and leisure industries, leaving patrons dealing with exorbitant and vaguely outlined “service charges” or “comfort charges” when testing.

California invoice would ban police canine from arrests and crowd management, citing racial trauma

Democratic Assemblymembers Corey Jackson and Ash Kalra have launched a invoice that will ban the usage of police canines for arrests, apprehensions and crowd management, saying officers have lengthy focused and brutalized People of colour with police canine.

California’s largest environmental cleanup leaves lead contamination and frustration

California’s largest and costliest environmental cleanup has did not correctly take away lead air pollution from some houses and neighborhoods close to the infamous Exide battery recycler in southeast Los Angeles County, leaving residents at continued danger. Six years after the California Division of Poisonous Substances Management launched into an enormous remediation effort across the shuttered Exide plant, quite a few houses focused for cleanup have been left with concentrations in extra of state well being requirements.

Skelton: Rains and flooding depart claims of California drought excessive and dry

This winter, Newsom has continued to declare that the state’s in a drought even whereas proclaiming regional flood emergencies. This simply appears contradictory and complicated, argues columnist George Skelton. How can there be a simultaneous drought and flood?

Leaving jail for a lot of means homelessness and overdose. California hopes to alter that

Californians who depart prisons and jails quickly could have a greater probability of success past bars. In January, California turned the primary state permitted to offer some advantages underneath Medicaid (recognized right here as Medi-Cal) to incarcerated people as they put together to depart jail, together with providers like substance use therapy and psychological well being interventions that will proceed after they’re out.

California considers legalizing hashish cafes to assist struggling marijuana trade

The laws by Democratic Assemblymember Matt Haney would legalize the sale of meals and nonalcoholic drinks at hashish retailers and lounges, and permit them to host dwell performances. Marijuana retailers say their companies should develop to outlive, however related laws died final yr amid opposition from well being advocates involved in regards to the risks of secondhand smoke.