HR 3827 — Protect Speech Act
Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Protect Speech Act This bill modifies the immunity from liability of a provider or user of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. Specifically, the bill provides that this immunity shall not apply to any action taken to restrict access to or availability of material provided by another information content provider unless the action is taken in good faith based on an objectively reasonable belief that the material is (1) obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, promoting terrorism or violent extremism, harassing, promoting self-harm, or unlawful; or (2) violates the applicable terms of service or use. In order to avoid liability for taking action based on either belief, certain good faith requirements must be met, such as (1) making publicly available terms of service or use that plainly state the criteria for content moderation practices, and (2) not restricting access to or availability of material on deceptive grounds. Further, the bill specifies that being responsible in whole or in part for the creation or development of information includes instances in which a person or entity solicits, comments upon, funds, or affirmatively and substantively contributes to, modifies, or alters information provided by another person or entity.
Bill Text
- Introduced Introduced in House Current html June 11, 2021
Action History
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
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Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Sponsors
- Tom McClintock · Cosponsor
- Dan Bishop · Cosponsor
- Thomas P. Tiffany · Cosponsor
- Victoria Spartz · Cosponsor
- W. Gregory Steube · Cosponsor
- Mike Johnson · Cosponsor
- Scott Fitzgerald · Cosponsor
- Darrell Issa · Cosponsor
- Michelle Fischbach · Cosponsor
- Burgess Owens · Cosponsor
- Vern Buchanan · Cosponsor
- Randy K. Sr. Weber · Cosponsor
- Tom Rice · Cosponsor
- John H. Rutherford · Cosponsor
- Jim Jordan · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 532 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Jordan, Jim Republican
Co-sponsors (14)
- McClintock, Tom Republican
- Bishop, Dan Republican
- Tiffany, Thomas P. Republican
- Spartz, Victoria Republican
- Steube, W. Gregory Republican
- Johnson, Mike Republican
- Fitzgerald, Scott Republican
- Issa, Darrell Republican
- Fischbach, Michelle Republican
- Owens, Burgess Republican
- Buchanan, Vern Republican
- Weber, Randy K. Sr. Republican
- Rice, Tom Republican
- Rutherford, John H. Republican
Not signed on (532)
532 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 532 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HR 3827 do?
- Protect Speech Act This bill modifies the immunity from liability of a provider or user of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. Specifically, the bill provides that this immunity shall not apply to any action taken to restrict access to or availability of material provided by another information content provider unless the action is taken in good faith based on an objectively reasonable belief that the material is (1) obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, promoting terrorism or violent extremism, harassing, promoting self-harm, or unlawful; or (2) violates the applicable terms of service or use. In order to avoid liability for taking action based on either belief, certain good faith requirements must be met, such as (1) making publicly available terms of service or use that plainly state the criteria for content moderation practices, and (2) not restricting access to or availability of material on deceptive grounds. Further, the bill specifies that being responsible in whole or in part for the creation or development of information includes instances in which a person or entity solicits, comments upon, funds, or affirmatively and substantively contributes to, modifies, or alters information provided by another person or entity.
- Who sponsors HR 3827?
- HR 3827 is sponsored by McClintock, Tom (Republican), Bishop, Dan (Republican), Tiffany, Thomas P. (Republican), Spartz, Victoria (Republican), Steube, W. Gregory (Republican), Johnson, Mike (Republican), Fitzgerald, Scott (Republican), Issa, Darrell (Republican), Fischbach, Michelle (Republican), Owens, Burgess (Republican), Buchanan, Vern (Republican), Weber, Randy K. Sr. (Republican), Rice, Tom (Republican), Rutherford, John H. (Republican), and Jordan, Jim (Republican).
- What is the current status of HR 3827?
- This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HR 3827?
- Track HR 3827 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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