SAN FRANCISCO — In a new twist on political disclosure, California may soon require bloggers to report financing from campaigns.
The proposal, by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission, is believed by state election officials here to be the first of its kind in the nation.
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The election officials are calling for new requirements for blogger contributions from both candidate and ballot initiative campaigns.
Current state law requires campaigns to disclose payments to bloggers, but the bloggers are under no obligation to reveal who has given them money.
Ann Ravel, chairwoman of the commission, said that initially the disclosure requirement would be voluntary but that such disclosures work best if required by law. She compared the proposal to guidance by the Federal Trade Commission that bloggers praising a product reveal if they are being paid by a company.
“I think it’s more important in a political arena,” Ravel said. “People tend to rely on bloggers and they should know that the opinion may be shaded if they are receiving compensation.”
The disclosure requirements would apply to websites that are anonymously funded, Ravel said. It’s unclear what level of payment would trigger disclosure. The commission plans to work on the proposal in the coming months. It needs the state commission’s approval before it goes into effect.
