S. 4534: Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-09-08 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-09-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act

Plain summary

Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act This bill limits the immunity of a provider or user of an interactive computer service (i.e., social media platform) for screening and blocking offensive material on the service's platform, revises the applicability of civil liability for this moderation of offensive material, and changes a definition that governs applicability of the immunity. Under current law, this immunity protects a provider or user of a social media platform from being treated as the publisher or speaker of information provided by another information content provider. The bill removes this immunity from a decision, agreement, or action by a provider or user of a social media platform to restrict access to or availability of material provided by another information content provider. To avoid liability for this conduct, in addition to acting in good faith, the bill requires that the actor must have an objectively reasonable belief that the material is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, promoting self-harm, promoting terrorism, or unlawful. Currently, a good faith actor must only consider such material to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable. Further, the bill redefines information content provider to encompass any person who editorializes or affirmatively and substantively modifies the content of another person or entity.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] reported raising $306,823 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116s4534.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/s>

Record fed-us-cong116-s4534 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116