Protecting Constitutional Rights from Online Platform Censorship Act

Bill: 117-hr-83
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]
Introduced: 2021-01-04
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Constitution and constitutional amendments

First Amendment rights

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

State and local courts
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Protecting Constitutional Rights from Online Platform Censorship Act</b></p> <p>This bill eliminates the immunity of a provider or user of an interactive computer service (e.g., social media company) from liability for restricting certain offensive material, and it prohibits an internet platform from taking action to restrict a user's material that is protected under the Constitution or federal, state, or local law.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 83 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 4, 2021 Mr. DesJarlais introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect constitutional rights from online platform censorship, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Constitutional Rights from Online Platform Censorship Act . 2. Protection of Constitutional Rights (a) In general Section 230(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 230 ) is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking Protection for Good Samaritan Blocking and Screening of Offensive Material and inserting Blocking and screening of lawful and Constitutional material ; and (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2) Prohibition (A) In general It shall be unlawful for any internet platform to take an action to restrict access to or the availability of protected material of a user of such platform. (B) Private right of action If an internet platform takes an action to restrict access to or the availability of protected material of a user of such platform, such user may bring an action in an appropriate State court or an appropriate district court of the United States against such platform to obtain the relief described under subparagraph (C). (C) Relief A user that prevails in a civil action under subparagraph (B) may obtain monetary relief of not less than $10,000 but not more than $50,000 per action described under subparagraph (A). (D) Protected material defined In this paragraph, the term protected material means material that is protected under the Constitution or otherwise protected under Federal, State, or local law. . (b) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.