HR 908
Stop the Censorship Act
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Bill overview
This bill, the Stop the Censorship Act, aims to modify Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which currently protects online platforms from liability for user-generated content. The bill would limit Section 230’s protections, requiring platforms to take action against unlawful or objectionable material, or to offer users the ability to filter content. It shifts the focus to platforms proactively screening and blocking harmful content, rather than simply relying on user reports.
Key provisions
- Eliminates Section 230’s immunity for platforms that take voluntary, good-faith actions to screen and block objectionable content.
- Requires platforms to screen and block unlawful or objectionable material.
- Provides liability protection to platforms that offer users the option to screen or block any material.
- Specifically defines ‘unlawful or objectionable material’ to include a broader range of content.
- Modifies the heading of Section 230 to reflect the change in focus.
- Requires platforms to take action against material deemed obscene, lewd, lascivious, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable.
- Expands the definition of what constitutes a protected action to include offering users content filtering options.
Who is affected
- Online platforms (e.g., social media companies)
- Users of online platforms
- Content creators
- Government agencies
- Internet service providers
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] Hageman
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 908
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (commonly referred to as the Communications Decency Act) to stop censorship, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Stop the Censorship Act
.
Section 230(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(c)) is amended—
in the heading, by striking and Screening of Offensive Material
and inserting of unlawful or objectionable material
; and
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A)—
by striking material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected
and inserting unlawful material
; and
by striking ; or
and inserting a semicolon;
in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1).
and inserting subparagraph (A); or
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: