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California Enacts Law Requiring IMDb To Remove Actor Ages On Request (hollywoodreporter.com)

Posted by msmash on from the explain-like-I'm-5 dept.

California Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed legislation that requires certain entertainment sites, such as IMDb, to remove -- or not post in the first place -- an actor's age or birthday upon request, reports Hollywood Reporter. From the report: The law, which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2017, applies to entertainment database sites that allow paid subscribers to post resumes, headshots or other information for prospective employers. Only a paying subscriber can make a removal or nonpublication request. Although the legislation may be most critical for actors, it applies to all entertainment job categories. "Even though it is against both federal and state law, age discrimination persists in the entertainment industry," Majority Leader Ian Calderon, D-Whittier, said in a statement. "AB 1687 provides the necessary tools to remove age information from online profiles on employment referral websites to help prevent this type of discrimination."Bloomberg columnist, Shira Ovide said, "Congratulations, IMDB. You have now become the subject of California law." Slate writer Will Oremus added, "Sometimes I start to think California is not such a bad place and then they go and do something like this."

8 of 319 comments (clear)

  1. Comment by WallyL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't that directory information? I suppose removing it from imdb.com makes it harder to learn an actor's age, but it's still out there people. You're in the public eye. Knowing exactly how old Natalie Portman is because imdb prominently displays it doesn't change anything.

    1. Re:Comment by saloomy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wikipedia is not an "entertainment database". This law is ridiculous and I hope IMBD, et al sue California in federal court for violating its 1st amendment rights. How can you enact a silencing law that only silences certain people? Isn't that discrimination? There are age-related anti-discrimination laws already on the books, and they should be plenty sufficient for protecting actors as well as all other kinds of labor.

      Excuse me, would you kindly tell me where the land of free is?

    2. Re:Comment by dunkindave · · Score: 5, Informative

      This law is a violation of 1st Amendment. Pure and simple. If I were IMDB, I wouldn't comply.

      Note the law only applies if the person has a paid subscription to the site. That means the site has entered into a commercial contract with the person, and the rules then change somewhat. If IMDB wants to post ages or birthdates, the law doesn't stop them, as long as they don't accept money from the party in question. As soon as they accept money, their rights fall under contract law and are subject to other laws as set forth by statute. No one is forcing them to accept the person's money.

      Think of it like a person rents an apartment. Before they rent, there is a big political sign on the apartment's windows, which the renter doesn't want on HIS window. Having a law saying the tenant can decide what, if any, information is posted on the window isn't a violation of the building owner's first amendment rights, since the contract has shifted aspects of control of the property. Having a law that says if you CHOOSE to offer a certain service, like the ability to modify information about you on a website, then other requirements also come into play, such as the ability to decide whether an age/birthdate are included, is permitted and isn't a violation of the First Amendment.

  2. Actors Age by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Instead of displaying age:

    Age: This actor is so ancient they do not wish it displayed.

  3. And IMDB cares about this *why*, exactly? by pla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Registrant Organization: IMDb.com, Inc.
    Registrant Street: Legal Dept, PO Box 81226,
    Registrant City: Seattle
    Registrant State/Province: WA"

    Dear California: How about "go fuck yourself". That a good answer?

    Oh, you don't want IMDB operating in your state? Perhaps you could build some sort of Great Firewall. That's worked out so well for China (and North Korea).

  4. That makes perfect sense by raymorris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That makes perfect sense, in California politico-legal logic. This is, after all, the same state that gave us the glorious legal logic "racial discrimination is mandatory by law because racial discrimination is illegal".

  5. Why not just...? by TsuruchiBrian · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why not just allow their birthdays to be posted, but forbid addition and subtraction?

  6. Re:Yup by John+Jorsett · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Bad law bring it to the Supreme Court and get it overturned. IMDB probably has mega money from all that advertising they run on their site. They have plenty of money for a lawsuit

    There's something wrong when you need "plenty of money" in order to assure your rights aren't violated. We need to modify the system where, if you challenge a bad law and prevail, you get your legal costs reimbursed.