Legis Daily

Digital Integrity in Democracy Act

USA119th CongressS-840| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
Peter Welch

Peter Welch

Democratic Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (4)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act aims to hold social media platforms accountable for hosting misinformation related to elections. It achieves this by creating an exception to Section 230 immunity for platforms that intentionally or knowingly host false election administration information . This information is defined as objectively incorrect details regarding the time, place, manner, or voter eligibility of a covered election, but it explicitly excludes political speech about candidates, officeholders, or political parties. Social media platforms, defined as those with at least 25 million monthly users, are required to remove such false information within 48 hours of a complete notification on non-election days, or within 24 hours on election days. Failure to comply can result in civil actions brought by the Attorney General , State attorneys general, or secretaries of state, and even a private right of action for aggrieved candidates . Penalties for non-compliance include $50,000 in damages per unremoved item and injunctive relief, though a safe harbor exists if platforms proactively remove the content within the specified timeframes.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4977
Digital Integrity in Democracy Act
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4977
    Digital Integrity in Democracy Act


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Science, Technology, Communications

Digital Integrity in Democracy Act

USA119th CongressS-840| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act aims to hold social media platforms accountable for hosting misinformation related to elections. It achieves this by creating an exception to Section 230 immunity for platforms that intentionally or knowingly host false election administration information . This information is defined as objectively incorrect details regarding the time, place, manner, or voter eligibility of a covered election, but it explicitly excludes political speech about candidates, officeholders, or political parties. Social media platforms, defined as those with at least 25 million monthly users, are required to remove such false information within 48 hours of a complete notification on non-election days, or within 24 hours on election days. Failure to comply can result in civil actions brought by the Attorney General , State attorneys general, or secretaries of state, and even a private right of action for aggrieved candidates . Penalties for non-compliance include $50,000 in damages per unremoved item and injunctive relief, though a safe harbor exists if platforms proactively remove the content within the specified timeframes.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4977
Digital Integrity in Democracy Act
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4977
    Digital Integrity in Democracy Act


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Peter Welch

Peter Welch

Democratic Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (4)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted