California Senate Bill 771 threatens your right to speak freely on social media. This isn’t just censorship — it’s surveillance.
SB 771 opens the door to digital profiling and targeted censorship by allowing the state to fine social media companies for content you post — especially if that content supports Palestinian rights, criticizes Israel’s occupation, or challenges state violence and colonialism. And it gets worse: the bill doesn’t just go after speech. It penalizes platforms for how algorithms respond to that speech, even when that content is lawful, accurate, and grounded in historical or political critique. SB 771 imposes separate fines on companies and individuals alike, chilling critical voices across the board.
ADC Stands for Free and Open Discourse
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) supports policies that protect users from genuine hate and harassment. But SB 771 is not about safety — it’s a sweeping censorship measure. It would:
- Expand state power to penalize political speech deemed “discriminatory,” even if it’s fact-based and part of anti-colonial or anti-imperialist analysis.
- Push flawed definitions of prejudice. Social media companies, under pressure from Israel advocacy groups, have already begun adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish hatred. As private entities, they aren’t bound by First Amendment protections, making them especially susceptible to political influence.
- Fine platforms based on algorithmic amplification, not just content. SB 771 allows fines of up to $1 million per violation if an algorithm promotes certain content, regardless of its accuracy or intent. If your post gains traction, that alone could trigger punishment.
- Mirror post-9/11 discrimination. Just as banks shut down Arab and Muslim customers’ accounts out of fear and liability (not wrongdoing) this bill encourages platforms to silence marginalized users to protect themselves.
- Suppress Palestine advocacy. At the recent Assembly hearing, every single example offered in support of SB 771 focused exclusively on antisemitism. This bill is being driven by a narrow agenda and weaponizes an inaccurate definition of antisemitism to censor advocacy for Palestinian rights.
This Is a De Facto Delete Policy
SB 771 isn’t about fighting hate — it’s about erasing dissent. It turns critical political speech into a liability. If passed, it will set a dangerous precedent: criminalizing digital dissent and redefining advocacy as discrimination. Take Action: Tell the California Senate to Reject SB 771. Email your state senator now and urge them to vote NO on SB 771.
Let them know that this bill:
- Encourages algorithmic profiling and censorship
- Mislabels criticism of Israel as hate speech
- Threatens free speech and democratic discourse in California and beyond.