PROTECT Act

This legislative proposal, known as the Promoting Responsible Online Technology and Ensuring Consumer Trust Act or the PROTECT Act, seeks to fundamentally alter the legal landscape for online platforms. Its primary objective is the outright repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, which would eliminate the broad liability protections currently granted to interactive computer service providers regarding content posted by their users. The repeal means online platforms could potentially be held legally responsible for third-party content in the same way traditional publishers are. To ensure consistency, the bill also mandates extensive conforming amendments across various federal laws. These amendments update references to Section 230, redefine terms like "interactive computer service" in other statutes, and remove clauses that previously relied on Section 230's protections, affecting acts such as the Trademark Act and Title 18 of the U.S. Code.