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S 4859 118th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications

Standing to Challenge Government Censorship Act

Introduced: July 30, 2024 Introduced by: Paul, Rand Republican · Kentucky See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 30, 2024
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Standing to Challenge Government Censorship Act

This bill prohibits employees and contractors of executive branch agencies from directing or otherwise influencing an internet platform to remove or suppress specific content or users. This restriction extends to the labeling of content as false or misleading, and is applicable to the President and Vice President. Executive branch employees also may not solicit data from internet platforms on specific topics or users, and may not solicit or otherwise accept free promotion on the platform. 

This bill also creates a private right of action against agencies and employees who violate the prohibition on influencing content. State and territorial governments, as well as the government of the District of Columbia, may also bring suit on behalf of an individual subject to their jurisdiction. Civil actions may be brought with respect to past, ongoing, or future violations. Further, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of liability in a civil action against an agency or employee where the employee is shown to have communicated with a platform about the plaintiff or their use of the platform. 

What's happening now July 30, 2024

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 2425 Related bill Free Speech Protection Act
  • HR 4791 Related bill Free Speech Protection Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 1

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 4859: Standing to Challenge Government Censorship Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-4859/
MLA
"S. 4859: Standing to Challenge Government Censorship Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-4859/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 4859, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-4859/.
Markdown link
[S. 4859: Standing to Challenge Government Censorship Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-4859/)
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