H.R. 7045

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7045 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7045

To repeal section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2026

Mr. Patronis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To repeal section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Responsible Online 
Technology and Ensuring Consumer Trust Act'' or the ``PROTECT Act''.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF SECTION 230.

(a) In General.--Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 230) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Communications act of 1934.--The Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended--
(A) in section 223--
(i) in subsection (h)(1)--
(I) by striking subparagraph (D); 
and
(II) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and 
(E), respectively; and
(ii) in subsection (i), by striking 
paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) The term `interactive computer service' means any 
information service, system, or access software provider that 
provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a 
computer server, including specifically a service or system 
that provides access to the internet and such systems operated 
or services offered by libraries or educational 
institutions.''; and
(B) in section 231(b)(4), by striking ``or section 
230''.
(2) Trademark act of 1946.--Section 45 of the Act entitled 
``An Act to provide for the registration and protection of 
trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the provisions of 
certain international conventions, and for other purposes'', 
approved July 5, 1946 (commonly known as the ``Trademark Act of 
1946'') (15 U.S.C. 1127), is amended, in the undesignated 
provision relating to the term ``Internet'', by striking ``has 
the meaning given that term in section 230(f)(1) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f)(1))'' and 
inserting ``means the international computer network of both 
Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data 
networks''.
(3) Title 17, united states code.--Section 1401 of title 
17, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (g).
(4) Title 18, united states code.--Part I of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended--
(A) in section 1462, by striking ``(as defined in 
section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``(as defined in 
section 223(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 223(i)))'';
(B) in section 1465, by striking ``(as defined in 
section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)'' 
and inserting ``(as defined in section 223(i) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(i)))'';
(C) in section 2257(h)(2)(B)(v), by striking ``, 
except that deletion of a particular communication or 
material made by another person in a manner consistent 
with section 230(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 230(c)) shall not constitute such selection 
or alteration of the content of the communication''; 
and
(D) in section 2421A--
(i) in subsection (a), by striking ``(as 
such term is defined in defined in section 
230(f) the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 230(f)))'' and inserting ``(as such term 
is defined in section 223(i) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
223(i)))''; and
(ii) in subsection (b), by striking ``(as 
such term is defined in defined in section 
230(f) the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 230(f)))'' and inserting ``(as such term 
is defined in section 223(i) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
223(i)))''.
(5) Controlled substances act.--Section 
401(h)(3)(A)(iii)(II) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 841(h)(3)(A)(iii)(II)) is amended by striking ``, except 
that deletion of a particular communication or material made by 
another person in a manner consistent with section 230(c) of 
the Communications Act of 1934 shall not constitute such 
selection or alteration of the content of the communication''.
(6) Webb-kenyon act.--Section 3(b)(1) of the Act entitled 
``An Act divesting intoxicating liquors of their interstate 
character in certain cases'', approved March 1, 1913 (commonly 
known as the ``Webb-Kenyon Act'') (27 U.S.C. 122b(b)(1)), is 
amended by striking ``(as defined in section 230(f) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f))'' and inserting 
``(as defined in section 223(i) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(i)))''.
(7) Title 28, united states code.--Section 4102 of title 
28, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) in subsection (e)--
(i) by striking ``construed to'' and all 
that follows through ``affect'' and inserting 
``construed to affect''; and
(ii) by striking ``defamation; or'' and all 
that follows and inserting ``defamation.''.
(8) Daniel anderl judicial security and privacy act of 
2022.--Section 5933(7) of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security 
and Privacy Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-263) is amended by 
striking ``section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 230)'' and inserting ``section 223(i) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(i))''.
(9) Title 31, united states code.--Section 5362(6) of title 
31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 230(f) 
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f))'' and 
inserting ``section 223(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 223(i))''.
(10) National telecommunications and information 
administration organization act.--Section 157 of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization 
Act (47 U.S.C. 941) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (e); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (f) through (j) as 
subsections (e) through (i), respectively.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
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