II
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 299
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 8, 2021
Mr. Warner (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Kaine) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To amend section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 to reaffirm civil rights, victims’ rights, and consumer protections.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Against Fraud, Exploitation, Threats, Extremism, and Consumer Harms Act
or the SAFE TECH Act
.
Communications Decency Act improvements
Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230) is amended—
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking No provider
and inserting the following:
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (3), no provider
;
by striking any information
and inserting any speech
;
by inserting before the period at the end the following: , unless the provider or user has accepted payment to make the speech available or, in whole or in part, created or funded the creation of the speech
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Affirmative defense
In any action in which the defendant raises subparagraph (A) as a defense, the defendant shall have the burden of persuasion, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant is a provider or user of an interactive computer service and is being treated as the publisher or speaker of speech provided by another information content provider.
;
in paragraph (2)(B), by striking paragraph (1)
and inserting subparagraph (A)
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Exclusion from Good Samaritan
Immunity
Injunctive relief
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any request for injunctive relief arising from the failure of an interactive computer service provider to remove, restrict access to or availability of, or prevent dissemination of material that is likely to cause irreparable harm.
Limitation of liability
In the case of an interactive computer service provider that complies with an order granting injunctive relief described in subparagraph (A), such compliance shall not subject the interactive computer service provider to liability for removing, restricting access to or availability of, or preventing dissemination of material subject to the order.
; and
in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following:
No effect on civil rights laws
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, impair, or prevent any action alleging discrimination on the basis of any protected class, or conduct that has the effect or consequence of discriminating on the basis of any protected class, under any Federal or State law.
No effect on antitrust laws
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, impair, or limit any action brought under Federal or State antitrust law.
No effect on stalking, harassment, or intimidation laws
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, impair, or limit any action alleging stalking, cyberstalking, harassment, cyberharassment, or intimidation based, in whole or in part, on sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability brought under Federal or State law.
No effect on international human rights law
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, impair, or limit any action brought under section 1350 of title 28, United States Code.
No effect on wrongful death actions
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, impair, or limit any civil action for a wrongful death.
.