January 13, 2026
Mr. Patronis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To repeal section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.
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Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230) is repealed.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.