Protected individuals.

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan's legislation establishes new privacy protections for California elected officials, court officers, and their immediate family members by regulating how their personal information can be published or sold online. The bill creates a framework allowing these "protected individuals" to request the removal of their personal information from websites and prohibits its further distribution.

Under the measure, protected individuals or the California Privacy Protection Agency may submit written requests requiring persons or entities to cease publishing their personal information or remove it from existing publications within 72 hours. The bill defines personal information broadly, excluding only details that individuals have consented to release publicly or that appear in legitimate news coverage of public interest matters.

The legislation makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly publish or sell a protected individual's personal information while aware it poses an imminent threat that results in assault, harassment, trespass, or property destruction. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $5,000. Protected individuals, the Attorney General, county counsels, and city attorneys may pursue civil actions seeking injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees, with courts authorized to award punitive damages for willful violations.