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Congress·In Committee·12 months ago

Senate Panel Weighs Stripping Social Media Liability Shields for False Voting Info

Also known as: Digital Integrity in Democracy Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Key Points

  • Would limit legal protections for large social media platforms if they knowingly or intentionally leave up false information about how to vote.
  • Covers “objectively incorrect” details like when and where to vote, how voting works, and who is eligible—while excluding normal political opinions about candidates or parties.
  • Requires platforms to review written complaints and, if the info is wrong, take it down within 48 hours (or within 24 hours during an election period).
  • Lets the U.S. Attorney General, state officials, or affected candidates sue platforms that don’t remove the content on time, with set money damages per post and court orders to remove it.
  • Applies only to very large platforms (at least 25 million monthly U.S. users) and gives protection if the platform removes the false voting info quickly after learning about it.
Consumer ProtectionTechnologyCivil Rights

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 4, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Right after the law is enacted

Large social media platforms update rules and build a “fast removal” lane for voting logistics misinformation

Users may notice quicker takedowns of posts about polling places, voting times, eligibility rules, and absentee ballot timing—especially close to elections

Immediately after enactment; deadlines apply whenever notices are received

Platforms start honoring the 48-hour deadline (and 24-hour deadline on election days) after receiving a complete written notice

If you report a clearly wrong “how to vote” post with enough detail to find it, the platform would be under pressure to decide quickly and remove it if it’s objectively wrong

In the months leading into the next major federal election after enactment

States set up or expand election misinformation reporting channels that generate “complete notifications”

You may be directed to a state-run form or email to report false voting info so the state can send an official notice to platforms

During competitive races after enactment, especially during early voting through Election Day

Candidates begin sending formal notices (and may file lawsuits when platforms miss deadlines)

Campaigns could push platforms to remove harmful false voting-rule posts faster, but you may also see more legal threats and disputes about what counts as “objectively incorrect”

Related News

4 articles
Vermont Business Magazine·over 1 year ago

Welch introduces 'Digital Integrity' bill to counter false election administration content

Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led a group of senators in introducing the Digital Integrity in Democracy Act. The bill aims to hold social media platforms accountable for knowingly hosting false election administration information by carving out a narrow exception to Section 230 immunity.

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TechPolicy.Press·over 1 year ago

August 2024 US Tech Policy Roundup

The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act (S. 4977) was introduced to hold social media operators accountable for intentionally hosting false election administration information. The bill targets objectively incorrect details about voting procedures while excluding political speech about candidates.

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TechPolicy.Press·11 months ago

March 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup

Senator Peter Welch reintroduced the Digital Integrity in Democracy Act (S. 840) in March 2025. The legislation seeks to hold social media platforms liable if they knowingly host false information regarding the time, place, or manner of elections and fail to remove it within specified windows.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Digital Integrity in Democracy Act

Bill NumberS 840
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(4)
D: 4

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.