§20917 — Title 34 Navy | U.S. Code

§20917 Checking system for social networking websites

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Protection of Children and Other Persons › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION › Part Part A— - Sex Offender Registration and Notification › § 20917

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General must set up and keep a secure system that lets social networking websites check the Internet identifiers of their users against the National Sex Offender Registry. The system only shows identifiers that match. Websites do not have to send their users’ identifiers to the system operator. The system must protect the secrecy of the data and make identifiers and other data unreadable to protect privacy. A website must apply to the Attorney General to use the system and give basic info about itself, why it wants access, who may help run the checks, and rules for notifying and letting a person challenge a denial of access. If a match is found, the Attorney General must quickly give the website the person’s name, sex, home address, photo, and physical description. The Attorney General can set how often checks may be done, charge a fee, and can deny or stop access for misuse or false info. Public release of lists of matched identifiers is banned. Websites get legal protection from most lawsuits over using the system, unless there is intentional wrongdoing, actual malice, or reckless or unrelated misconduct. Using the system is voluntary.

Title 34, §20917

Navy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Attorney General shall establish and maintain a secure system that permits social networking websites to compare the information contained in the National Sex Offender Registry with the Internet identifiers of users of the social networking websites, and view only those Internet identifiers that match. The system—

(A)shall not require or permit any social networking website to transmit Internet identifiers of its users to the operator of the system, and

(B)shall use secure procedures that preserve the secrecy of the information made available by the Attorney General, including protection measures that render the Internet identifiers and other data elements indecipherable.

(2)Upon receiving a matched Internet identifier, the social networking website may make a request of the Attorney General for, and the Attorney General shall provide promptly, information related to the identity of the individual that has registered the matched Internet identifier. This information is limited to the name, sex, resident address, photograph, and physical description.

(b)A social networking website seeking to use the system shall submit an application to the Attorney General which provides—

(1)the name and legal status of the website;

(2)the contact information for the website;

(3)a description of the nature and operations of the website;

(4)a statement explaining why the website seeks to use the system;

(5)a description of policies and procedures to ensure that—

(A)any individual who is denied access to that website on the basis of information obtained through the system is promptly notified of the basis for the denial and has the ability to challenge the denial of access; and

(B)if the social networking website finds that information is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, the site immediately notifies the appropriate State registry and the Department of Justice, so that they may delete or correct that information in the respective State and national databases;

(6)the identity and address of, and contact information for, any contractor that will be used by the social networking website to use the system; and

(7)such other information or attestations as the Attorney General may require to ensure that the website will use the system—

(A)to protect the safety of the users of such website; and

(B)for the limited purpose of making the automated comparison described in subsection (a).

(c)(1)A social networking website approved by the Attorney General to use the system may conduct searches under the system as frequently as the Attorney General may allow.

(2)The Attorney General may deny, suspend, or terminate use of the system by a social networking website that—

(A)provides false information in its application for use of the system;

(B)may be using or seeks to use the system for any unlawful or improper purpose;

(C)fails to comply with the procedures required under subsection (b)(5); or

(D)uses information obtained from the system in any way that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Act.

(3)(A)Neither the Attorney General nor a social networking website approved to use the system may release to the public any list of the Internet identifiers of sex offenders contained in the system.

(B)The Attorney General shall limit the release of information obtained through the use of the system established under subsection (a) by social networking websites approved to use such system.

(C)The use of the system established under subsection (a) by a social networking website shall be conditioned on the website’s agreement to observe the limitations required under this paragraph.

(D)This subsection shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Attorney General under any other provision of law to conduct or to allow searches or checks against sex offender registration information.

(4)A social networking website approved to use the system shall pay any fee established by the Attorney General for use of the system.

(5)(A)A civil claim against a social networking website, including any director, officer, employee, parent, contractor, or agent of that social networking website, arising from the use by such website of the National Sex Offender Registry, may not be brought in any Federal or State court.

(B)Subparagraph (A) does not apply to a claim if the social networking website, or a director, officer, employee, parent, contractor, or agent of that social networking website—

(i)engaged in intentional misconduct; or

(ii)acted, or failed to act—

(I)with actual malice;

(II)with reckless disregard to a substantial risk of causing injury without legal justification; or

(III)for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any responsibility or function described in paragraph (3).

(C)A social networking website shall minimize the number of employees that are provided access to the Internet identifiers for which a match has been found through the system.

(6)Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any Internet website, including a social networking website, to use the system, and no Federal or State liability, or any other actionable adverse consequence, shall be imposed on such website based on its decision not to do so.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(D), is Pub. L. 110–400, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4224, known as the Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008, and also known as the KIDS Act of 2008, which enacted this section and section 20916 of this title, amended section 20981 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 10101 and 20981 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 2008 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008, also known as the KIDS Act of 2008, and not as part of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act which comprises this subchapter, or as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly classified to section 16915b of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.