S. 69 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLimits social media legal protection for political content
Social media companies and other online platforms currently have broad legal protection that shields them from being sued for content that users post. This bill would limit that protection in cases where a platform removes or restricts political speech because the government asked them to, unless the government is doing so for legitimate law enforcement or national security reasons. It would also change how the protection works in court, making platforms prove the protection applies rather than having lawsuits dismissed automatically.
How it affects you
This change would most directly affect social media companies and online platforms, which would face new legal risks when moderating political content following government requests. For people who use these platforms, it could influence how social media companies handle content moderation decisions tied to government involvement, though the summary doesn't spell out exactly what changes users would see in their day-to-day experience.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 9, 2025)
Curtailing Online Limitations that Lead Unconstitutionally to Democracy's Erosion Act or the COLLUDE Act
This bill limits federal liability protection, sometimes referred to as Section 230 protection, that generally precludes providers and users of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) from being held legally responsible for content provided by a third party.
Specifically, the bill removes the protection if a provider restricts access to or availability of content containing political speech because of a governmental request unless the request serves a legitimate law enforcement or national security purpose.
In addition, the bill changes legal procedures for applying the protection. Currently, the protection serves as broad immunity that typically allows the early dismissal of lawsuits, thereby preempting lawsuits and statutes that impose liability for third-party content. This bill makes the protection an affirmative defense, which means the provider or user must prove that the protection applies before the lawsuit may be dismissed.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 69
A BILL
COLLUDE Act
Sponsor: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) · Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 9, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”