Critic Calls California’s AB 2624 Unconstitutional and Seeks DOJ Intervention
The author contends that the newly enacted AB 2624, labeled the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” violates press freedoms and is asking the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to halt its enforcement.
AB 2624, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, is portrayed by the author as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech that specifically targets journalists. By stripping exemptions provided by the California Shield Law, the bill permits program participants to demand the removal of any personal information or images posted online and to seek court orders and fees if the demand is ignored. The writer illustrates how an investigative reporter could face legal action for publishing video of a fraudulent daycare, describing the law as a tool to silence such exposure.
Consequently, the author intends to petition the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division—currently led by Harmeet Dhillon—to block the law’s implementation. If the DOJ cannot act, the author warns that a costly court battle will be required once the statute is used against a journalist.
Why it matters
The law could curb investigative reporting and limit public oversight of fraud, affecting First Amendment rights.
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