Bill Text: CA AB1950 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 1950 (Prior Session Legislation)

CA State Legislature page for AB1950

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Consumers: Internet privacy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2018-06-12 - From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a). [AB1950 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1950-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1950

Introduced by Assembly Member Levine

January 29, 2018

An act to add Article 10 (commencing with Section 17610) to Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to advertising.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1950, as introduced, Levine. Advertising: Internet Web sites: social media.

Existing law prohibits a person, firm, corporation or association, or any employee thereof, from making or disseminating in any advertising device, or in any manner or means whatever, including over the Internet, any statement concerning real or personal property or services, which is untrue or misleading, as specified.

This bill would prohibit an operator of a social media Internet Web site from engaging in the sale of advertising with a computer software account or user that performs an automated task, and that is not verified by the operator as being controlled by a natural person.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that hackers and others now have the ability to sell advertisements on Web sites using computer programs called “bots” that can mimic human behavior to make it appear as though real people are visiting the Web sites and clicking on advertisements.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish new standards to detect and prevent fraudulent or deceptive advertisements, which are placed by bots instead of through direct contact and negotiation with natural persons.

SEC. 2.

Article 10 (commencing with Section 17610) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:

Article 10. Internet Advertising

17610.

(a) An operator of a social media Internet Web site shall not engage in the sale of advertising with a computer software account or user that performs an automated task, and that is not verified by the operator as being controlled by a natural person.

(b) As used in this section, “social media” means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet Web site profiles or locations.