Protecting Americans from Doxing and Political Violence Act

Key Points

• The bill creates legal protections against doxing for members of Congress, their families, and congressional staff, letting them ask agencies and businesses to hide sensitive details like home addresses and children's school locations.
• It also bans data brokers from selling, trading, or buying certain sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and precise location data, about any person located in the United States, not just members of Congress.
• Once a covered person or at-risk individual submits a takedown request, government agencies and businesses have only 72 hours to remove the protected information from public view.
• News organizations and journalists are protected under the bill, so reporting on public officials or matters of public concern would not be restricted even if it includes information that would otherwise be covered.
• The bill gives both individuals and government lawyers the power to sue over violations, letting affected people seek court orders and letting the U.S. Attorney General or state attorneys general take action against data brokers.