SB 7072 Summary

• Prohibits social media platforms from willfully deplatforming political candidates from the date of qualification through the election; violators face fines of $250,000 per day for statewide candidates and $25,000 per day for other candidates.

• Requires social media platforms to publish content moderation standards, apply them consistently, notify users within 7 days before censoring content with detailed explanations, and allow users to opt out of algorithmic post-prioritization in favor of chronological feeds.

• Creates an antitrust violator vendor list maintained by the Department of Management Services that prohibits entities convicted or held civilly liable for antitrust violations from bidding on or transacting new business with public entities, with formal hearing procedures and removal provisions.

• Establishes private right of action for users to sue social media platforms for violations, allowing up to $100,000 in statutory damages per claim, actual damages, and attorney fees if deplatformed.

• Exempts journalistic enterprises from censorship and deplatforming based on publication content; all provisions are subject to federal law limitations and 47 U.S.C. § 230(e)(3); effective July 1, 2021.