A proposed New York City bill would require city agencies to disclose when they pay social media influencers or other third-party creators to produce public communications.
The proposal comes as NYC agencies increasingly use digital creators to reach New Yorkers through social media.
According to News 12, covered posts from people who are not public servants would have to state that the content was paid for by the City of New York or the relevant city agency.
The Proposal Targets Paid Third-Party Communications
The legislation would make the relationship between city agencies and outside content creators more visible to the public.
Under the proposal described by News 12, agencies that fail to comply could face misdemeanor penalties or potential investigation by the Campaign Finance Board.
The proposal is separate from rules covering candidate campaign advertising.
The NYC Campaign Finance Board already requires certain campaign communications to include “paid for by” disclaimers. This includes paid influencer content.
In testimony to the City Council on September 22, the CFB said these campaign requirements have applied since the 2017 election cycle. The rules were expanded in 2024 to cover additional paid influencer content.
A separate bill, identified by the CFB as T2026-2554 and introduced by Council Member Feliz, would require government agencies to disclose certain partnerships involving third-party public communications paid for with government resources.
The CFB said the proposal raises concerns about giving it an enforcement role over other city agencies. Investigating or regulating City agencies is not currently part of its role.
The distinction is important. The proposal concerns government communications, while existing CFB disclosure rules primarily address campaign and independent-expenditure communications.
What the Rules Could Mean for NYC Campaigns
For people preparing to run for office in NYC, the proposal highlights the difference between government communications and campaign communications.
A candidate’s campaign operates under specific disclosure and reporting requirements when it pays for advertising or other communications. Government agencies operate under a different set of rules when communicating with the public.
Understanding this difference can help candidates avoid treating every political-looking social media post as campaign advertising.
Campaign teams also need to know who is behind a communication. The rules can differ depending on whether the content involves a candidate, campaign committee, independent spender or government agency.
The issue is especially relevant as social media becomes a larger part of voter outreach.
Candidates who work with influencers or paid digital creators need clear records. They should know who paid for the communication, who produced it and which campaign disclosure rules may apply.
If enacted, the proposed legislation could add another layer of transparency to city-funded communications.
For NYC candidates, it also shows why understanding campaign finance and communication rules is an important part of building a compliant campaign operation.
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The proposal would require certain city-funded third-party communications to disclose their connection to the City or relevant agency.
Yes. The Campaign Finance Board says its rules already require disclaimers on covered campaign advertising, including paid influencer content.
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