United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee 8 R cosponsors

HR 4027 — Stop the Censorship Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Stop the Censorship Act This bill limits a social media company's immunity from liability for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. The bill applies such immunity when the company restricts content that is unlawful rather than merely objectionable. Under current law, such immunity also applies to actions taken to enable or make available the technical means to restrict access to material that is objectionable. The bill instead specifies that this immunity applies to actions taken to (1) make available the technical means to restrict access to material that is unlawful, or (2) provide users with the option to restrict access to any material.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies Section 230 to change the standards for immunity from liability regarding objectionable material and introduces new provisions for user options in restricting access to material.

  • 47 U.S.C. 230(c)

    and Screening of Offensive Material → of Unlawful or Objectionable Material

    The heading of the section is changed to focus on unlawful or objectionable material.

  • 47 U.S.C. 230(c)(2)(A)

    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 → unlawful material

    The criteria for immunity for restricting access to material is narrowed to only unlawful material.

  • 47 U.S.C. 230(c)(2)(A)

    ; or → ;

    The transition phrase is modified to maintain grammatical integrity after the previous insertion.

  • 47 U.S.C. 230(c)(2)(B)

    paragraph (1). → subparagraph (A); or

    The reference is updated to reflect the new structure after the amendment.

  • 47 U.S.C. 230(c)(2)

    any action taken to provide users with the option to restrict access to any other material, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.

    New provisions allow for providers to give users the option to limit access to material, extending beyond just unlawful content.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 539 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (539)

539 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

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Subjects

civil-rights technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4027 do?
Stop the Censorship Act This bill limits a social media company's immunity from liability for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. The bill applies such immunity when the company restricts content that is unlawful rather than merely objectionable. Under current law, such immunity also applies to actions taken to enable or make available the technical means to restrict access to material that is objectionable. The bill instead specifies that this immunity applies to actions taken to (1) make available the technical means to restrict access to material that is unlawful, or (2) provide users with the option to restrict access to any material.
Who sponsors HR 4027?
HR 4027 is sponsored by Gosar, Paul A. (Republican), Meadows, Mark (Republican), King, Steve (Republican), Norman, Ralph (Republican), Yoho, Ted S. (Republican), Wright, Ron (Republican), Grothman, Glenn (Republican), and Tiffany, Thomas P. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 4027?
This bill died with 116th 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 4027?
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