S. 69

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to address governmental interference in content moderation decisions by providers of interactive computer services, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · January 9, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Schmitt · Committee: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Table of contents

• S. 69
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Content moderation, creation and development, and distribution

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Content moderation, creation and development, and distribution

• Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 () is amended— 47 U.S.C. 230
  • in subsection (c)—
    • in paragraph (1)—
      • (i) by striking and inserting the following:
        • (A) In general
          • Subject to subparagraph (B), no provider
      • (ii) by adding at the end the following:
        • (B) Affirmative defense
          • In a criminal or civil action against a provider or user of an interactive computer service that treats the provider or user as the publisher or speaker of any information, the provider or user shall bear the burden of proving that the provider or user is not an information content provider with respect to that information for purposes of subparagraph (A).
    • in paragraph (2)(B), by striking paragraph (1)and inserting subparagraph (A); and
      • (3) Loss of protection in cases of governmental censorship
        • (A) In general
          • Except as provided in subparagraph (B), this subsection shall not apply to a provider of an interactive computer service that restricts access to or availability of material—
          • In general
            • (i) in a manner that reasonably appears to express, promote, limit the visibility of, or suppress legitimate political speech, including a discernible viewpoint; and
            • (ii) as a result of a communication that—
            • is sent to the provider by—
            • a governmental entity; or
            • a non-governmental entity that is acting at the request or behest of a governmental entity; and
            • the applicable entity under subclause (I) sends only to the provider and not to any other entity.
        • (B) Exception
          • A communication that is for a legitimate law enforcement purpose or a national security purpose shall not be considered to be a communication that is described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
    • by adding at the end the following:
    • (5) Legitimate law enforcement purpose
      • The term legitimate law enforcement purpose means, with respect to a communication, that the purpose of the communication is so that a law enforcement agency can, within the lawful authority of that agency, investigate a criminal offense.
    • (6) National security purpose
      • The term national security purpose means, with respect to a communication, that the purpose of the communication relates to—
        • intelligence activities;
        • cryptologic activities that relate to the national security of the United States;
        • command and control of the Armed Forces;
        • equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or a weapons system; or
        • the direct fulfillment of a military or intelligence mission.
  • in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following: