Protecting Legislators and Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence from Doxing and Political Violence Act
Sponsored By: Senator Ron Wyden
Introduced
Summary
Protects the privacy and safety of Members of Congress, their immediate family, and congressional staff by restricting public posting and commercial trading of sensitive personal data. The bill defines a wide set of "covered information" and creates fast removal rules and civil remedies to reduce doxing and political violence.
Show full summary
- Members, families, and staff gain a formal right to block disclosure of specified personal data. Covered information includes home addresses, personal phone or email, Social Security or driver’s license numbers, bank or card numbers, vehicle identifiers, precise non-anonymized geolocation, and information identifying or locating children. They can send written requests and pursue injunctive or declaratory relief in court.
- Data brokers and businesses face a ban on selling, licensing, or buying covered information and must remove requested data from the internet within 72 hours. Transfers of that information are barred after a written request, with narrow exceptions.
- Narrow exceptions preserve news reporting on matters of public concern and lawful federal sources, and allow designated House and Senate staff to submit or manage protection requests. State Attorneys General can enforce violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Legal remedies and press exceptions
If enacted, at‑risk individuals could sue to stop or get a court to declare unlawful disclosures of their covered information. The bill would still allow lawful news investigation and reporting on matters of public concern and disclosures required by federal law. It would allow publication with an at‑risk person's written consent and let data brokers share information with government agencies. The section would be read broadly to favor protection of covered information.
Federal agencies must mark and remove data
If enacted, an at‑risk person could file a written notice asking a federal agency to mark their covered information as private. Agencies would have to remove that covered information from public posts within 72 hours of receiving the request. Exceptions would include court orders, signed releases, certain financial‑law disclosures, or confidentiality agreements. Legislative officers could submit notices or lists on behalf of Members and designated staff to streamline compliance.
Websites and data brokers must remove data
If enacted, websites, businesses, and data brokers would have to remove covered information within 72 hours after a written request. Data brokers would be barred from knowingly selling, licensing, trading for money, or buying covered persons' data. The bill would generally bar transfers of that data after a request, with limited exceptions for news reporting, voluntary posts by the person, lawful federal sources, or transfers needed to carry out the request. State and federal attorneys general could sue to enforce the ban.
Who is protected and what data
If enacted, this would define who counts as an at‑risk or covered person. It would list protected data like home addresses, personal phone numbers and emails, Social Security and driver's license numbers, bank and card numbers, vehicle identifiers, child and school or daycare details, travel routes, and precise location data. It would define who is a data broker and list activities that are excluded. It would exclude certain candidate filings from protection.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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