Digital Integrity in Democracy Act
Sponsored By: Senator Peter Welch
Introduced
Summary
Takes away Section 230 immunity for major social media platforms that host objectively false election administration information. The bill defines covered platforms, the specific kind of false information it targets, a rapid removal process, and legal penalties for noncompliance.
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- Platforms. Social media platforms with at least 25 million unique U.S. monthly users must evaluate written notices and remove objectively incorrect information about the time, place, manner of voting or voter eligibility within 48 hours on non‑election days and 24 hours on election days. The platform must provide written confirmation within 12 hours after removal.
- Candidates. A candidate under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) may sue after notifying the state chief election official and seek damages of $50,000 per item plus injunctive relief.
- Federal and state officials. The U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general or secretaries of state may bring civil actions seeking $50,000 per item and injunctive relief for information affecting covered elections.
- Scope of targeted speech. "False election administration information" is limited to objectively incorrect facts about how or who may vote and excludes political speech that favors or opposes candidates or parties.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Which platforms and content are covered
If enacted, the bill would define what a "covered election" and "false election administration information" mean. It would say false information is objectively wrong statements about the time, place, or manner of voting or about voter eligibility, penalties, or registration status. Political speech that favors or opposes a candidate, Federal officeholder, or political party would be excluded. It would apply only to "social media platforms" with at least 25,000,000 unique monthly U.S. users for most months in the last year.
Civil suits and $50,000 damages
If enacted, the bill would let the U.S. Attorney General sue platforms and seek $50,000 for each item of false election administration information not removed. State attorneys general or secretaries of state could sue over covered elections in their state for the same damages. A candidate could also bring a private action after notifying the state's chief election official and seek $50,000 per item. Courts could also order platforms to stop showing the content.
Platform notice, removal, and safe harbor
If enacted, the bill would require large platforms to follow a written notice-and-remove process for alleged false voting information. A complete notification must identify the content and give the complainant's contact details. Platforms would have to decide if the content is objectively incorrect and remove it within 48 hours, or within 24 hours on an election day. They must also send a written confirmation within 12 hours after removal. Platforms that follow these timelines keep a safe harbor from the immunity exception.
When the rules would start
If enacted, the bill would apply only to allegations that false election administration information is hosted on or after the date of enactment. Platforms would not have removal duties or liability for content hosted before that date.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peter Welch
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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