Digital Integrity in Democracy Act
Digital Integrity in Democracy Act
Plain Language Summary
# Digital Integrity in Democracy Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** If passed, this bill would require large social media platforms (like Facebook, X, and others) to quickly remove false information about elections from their sites. Specifically, it targets misinformation about when and where elections occur, how to vote, and who is eligible to vote. Platforms would have 48 hours to remove flagged false information, or just 24 hours if the false information is posted on election day itself (including early or absentee voting periods). **Who It Affects and Key Provisions:** The bill would primarily affect major social media companies and voters.
When someone notifies a platform that false election information exists, the platform would be required to investigate whether it's actually false and remove it if confirmed. The Department of Justice could sue platforms for failing to meet these removal deadlines, and states or candidates could also pursue legal action related to false information about their elections. **Current Status:** The bill (S 840) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Digital Integrity in Democracy ActThis bill requires large social media platforms to promptly remove from their sites false information about election logistics and voter eligibility.Specifically, platforms notified of potential false election information must investigate the veracity of the flagged information and, if it is false, remove it. Covered information includes false information about the time and place of, or voter eligibility for, an election. Platforms must generally remove false information within 48 hours of receipt of notification of its existence. If notification is received on the day of an election, including during an early or absentee voting period, the information must be removed within 24 hours. The Department of Justice may bring a civil suit against a social media platform that violates the timely removal requirement. States may bring suit against a platform if the false information at issue related to an election in the state, and candidates may bring suit against a platform if the candidate was aggrieved by the false information. Such suits may seek money damages and injunctive relief. The bill also specifies that Section 230 protection does not apply to false election information that is knowingly hosted on a social media platform. (Section 230 generally precludes providers and users of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media platform) from being held legally responsible under federal law for content provided by a third party.) However, platforms that comply with the timely removal requirements with respect to false election information retain Section 230 protection.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.