COLLUDE Act

This bill changes how websites and apps handle government pressure to remove or hide posts. It narrows a legal shield known as Section 230, which usually protects platforms and their users from being sued over what other people post. Under the bill, a platform can lose that protection if it limits or hides political speech after getting a private request from a government office or a group acting for the government. Public safety and national security requests are excluded if they are for a real criminal investigation or clearly tied to intelligence or military needs, as defined in the bill. It also changes Section 230 from a broad early shield into an “affirmative defense,” meaning the company would have to prove in court that the protection applies before a case can be thrown out.

In everyday terms, this could make social media companies more cautious about following quiet, one-on-one government requests to take down or bury political posts. It might also lead to more lawsuits and longer court fights over content decisions.

• Who is affected: Social media and other online platforms; people who post political content; government agencies that contact platforms about posts.
• What changes: Platforms can lose legal protection if they curb political speech due to private government requests; exceptions for legitimate law enforcement and national security; Section 230 becomes something companies must prove applies in court .
• When: The provided text does not specify an effective date.