PROTECT Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
Introduced
Summary
Repeal of Section 230's broad immunity for online services. The bill removes the federal shield that protected platforms from most legal claims over user‑generated content and then rewrites many federal laws to replace references to Section 230 with a new statutory structure and a new definition of an “interactive computer service.”
Show full summary
- Platforms and online service operators face greater legal exposure. Removing the immunity means companies that host user content could be sued under existing criminal and civil laws that were previously harder to apply.
- Libraries, schools, and other institutions named in the new definition are explicitly covered. Entities that run multi‑user servers or provide internet access may now fall under the same rules as commercial platforms.
- Courts, victims, and prosecutors see changes to how claims work across statutes. The bill updates defamation procedures and multiple criminal and civil code cross‑references so existing laws apply without the Section 230 exception.
Takes effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Repeal platform immunity for online services
If enacted, this bill would repeal Section 230 and remove the broad legal immunity that many online platforms relied on. It would add a new legal definition of “interactive computer service,” naming internet access and systems run by libraries or schools. The bill would also update many federal laws to use this new definition and to change related cross‑references. It would strike safe‑harbor language about deleting third‑party content in certain criminal and recordkeeping rules and revise wording about defamation. These changes would take effect on the date of enactment and could expose platforms to more lawsuits and change how websites handle user content.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Mills
FL • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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