California Governor Newsom Faces Lawsuit Threat Over New Privacy Law

<p>California Assemblyman Carl DeMaio has expressed concerns about a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, which he claims will hinder investigations into fraud. The law, titled "Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers," establishes privacy protections for immigration support service providers, including shielding their addresses and penalizing those who publish their images on social media.</p><p>DeMaio stated that the law criminalizes investigative journalism, asserting that it prevents citizen journalists from documenting fraud related to taxpayer money. He described the legislation as the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," suggesting it makes it illegal for citizen journalists to share evidence of fraud online.</p><p>The law was signed by Newsom last week and is scheduled to take effect on October 1. DeMaio indicated that he and a coalition of civil liberty advocates are preparing to file a lawsuit challenging the law.</p><p>He mentioned that they have a plaintiff and are currently drafting legal briefs, expressing hope that the U.S. Department of Justice will intervene in the case, which he claims infringes on First Amendment rights.</p><p>DeMaio compared California's fraud issues to those in Minnesota, stating that the situation in California is more severe. He accused certain organizations receiving taxpayer funds of failing to provide public services and instead engaging in political activities.</p><p>Discussions regarding the lawsuit have taken place with the Justice Department’s Office for Civil Rights. DeMaio has requested that the Department of Justice examine the law to determine if intervention is possible to prevent its implementation.</p><p>In response to DeMaio's comments, Newsom's spokesperson, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, stated that the law is not related to Nick Shirley and accused DeMaio and other Republicans of spreading misinformation. She asserted that the law does not affect Shirley's journalism and does not conceal fraud.</p><p>Fox News Digital has reached out to California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón for comments on the matter.</p>