Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that social media companies must begin submitting reports on their content moderation policies, a requirement under the “Stop Hiding Hate” Act signed into law late last year.
The law, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Grace Lee and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2024, applies to platforms operating in New York with more than $100 million in annual revenue. Companies are required to file biannual reports detailing how they address hate speech, racism, misinformation, extremism, harassment, and other harmful content.
“With violence and polarization on the rise, social media companies must ensure that their platforms don’t fuel hateful rhetoric and disinformation,” James said in a statement.
The reports, due online by Jan. 1, must include the number of posts flagged as violations, the actions taken, and whether posts were removed, demonetized, or deprioritized. Companies that fail to comply may face civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation per day.
Hochul called the law “an important step to increase transparency and accountability,” while Hoylman-Sigal said it would give New Yorkers information to “better decide which social media platforms they utilize.”
Lee added that the measure would provide “the transparency they deserve” and address the role online platforms play in spreading harmful content.
The Attorney General’s Office will oversee compliance and enforcement.
