Why can influencers now be fined for hiding political ads?

California is treating paid political creator posts as advertising that followers deserve to recognize immediately.

1. A paid post supporting or opposing a state or local candidate or ballot measure falls within the rule.
2. The disclosure should be clear, written, and visible with the post—not buried behind “more,” coded language, or a profile link.
3. Campaigns and creators should keep records of who paid, what was posted, and when.
4. Followers should look for a direct sponsorship label before treating a creator’s endorsement as independent opinion.