Bill > S188

This bill, called the "Free Speech Protection Act," aims to prevent federal employees and contractors from pressuring online platforms to censor speech protected by the First Amendment. The bill defines key terms like "covered platforms" (which include social media sites and media organizations) and "covered information" (such as digital communications, user data, and metadata). It prohibits federal employees from directing, coercing, or encouraging platforms to remove, suppress, label, or restrict speech that is constitutionally protected, including actions like removing content, suspending users, or characterizing speech as "misinformation." The bill introduces significant consequences for violations, including potential removal from federal employment, civil penalties of at least $10,000, loss of retirement benefits, and security clearance revocation. Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action for individuals whose speech has been impacted, allows for detailed reporting of communications between federal employees and platform representatives, terminates the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board, and prohibits federal agencies from awarding grants related to misinformation or disinformation. The legislation is contextually grounded in several Supreme Court decisions emphasizing the importance of free speech and government's limited role in restricting expression, and it responds to recent allegations of government attempts to influence content moderation on social media platforms.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/188/all-info