Social media has fundamentally changed how Pennsylvanians get political information.

Candidates, political committees, advocacy organizations, corporations, and other interested parties can now pay people with large online audiences to launder political messages directly to the public. Unlike a traditional television advertisement, mailer, or billboard, a paid social-media post may appear to viewers to represent the independent opinion of the “influencer” posting it.

Soon I will introduce legislation establishing disclosure requirements when an individual is paid to express or promote a political opinion through social media or another online platform.

Pennsylvania law already recognizes the importance of identifying who finances political communications through its election code; my legislation will expand on that existing consumer protection.

When a person receives money or other consideration from another person, candidate, political committee, organization, or entity to create, publish, or distribute covered political content online, the person receiving the compensation would be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose that financial relationship in the post itself.

The disclosure would be required when the communication is published and would have to be readily visible in written or visual content and clearly audible when the communication is primarily audio. The requirement would apply regardless of a person's follower count or whether that person is commonly described as an “influencer.”

My legislation would address compensated communications concerning Pennsylvania state and local candidates, ballot questions, and, where applicable, efforts intended to influence legislative or administrative action. It would not require a disclosure simply because an individual expresses a personal political opinion without compensation. Nor would it prevent, restrict, or dictate the substance of any political opinion. It would require disclosure only when another person pays for the post.

Help me bring transparency and honesty to online political opinions.