Police must use criminals’ self-provided names, pronouns says new California law | 2 Jan 2024 | new California law requires police departments to use individuals' self-provided names and pronouns when posting their mugshots on social media, drawing concerns of potential abuse by criminals. Under AB 994, which entered effect on January 1, police and sheriff's departments must use the name and pronouns given by arrested individuals upon posting a booking photo on social media. Law enforcement is now not allowed to post photos of individuals arrested for nonviolent crimes unless the suspect is determined by law enforcement to be a "fugitive," an "imminent threat," or if a judge orders the release of the suspect's image, or there is "an urgent and legitimate law enforcement interest." ...According to former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, this law could easily be abused by criminals seeking to hide under multiple identities. "This…benefits criminals only by creating multiple identities for one individual and sowing confusion in police reports," Villanueva told The Center Square. "This is shameless pandering to trans ideology and is a detriment to public safety. No one can possess two legal names at the same time."