Stop the Censorship Act

Key Points

• This bill rewrites Section 230 of the Communications Act to strip legal protections from tech companies that remove content beyond what is strictly illegal. Right now, platforms can take down posts they consider offensive, violent, or harassing without fear of lawsuits. Under this bill, that legal shield would only apply when the removed content is actually unlawful.
• Instead of letting platforms decide what stays up and what comes down, the bill would require companies to give users their own tools to filter content. Users would be in control of what they see or block, rather than relying on the platform to make those choices.
• The bill was introduced by Rep. Gosar and co-sponsored by eight other House Republicans. It was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where it currently sits.
• Supporters say this would prevent social media companies from silencing certain viewpoints. Critics worry it could flood platforms with harassment, misinformation, and other harmful content because companies would risk lawsuits for removing anything that is not technically illegal.