Washington, D.C.- Congressman Brett Guthrie, who serves as the Chair of the Health Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has introduced the Deplatform Drug Dealers Act, which will amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 to remove liability protections for online platforms relating to illegal sales of controlled substances on their sites.
Guthrie said “As deadly drugs ravage towns and cities across Kentucky and our nation we must act to protect our children and communities from these poisons. Cartels and drug dealers are increasingly targeting our children on social media, which has caused alarming increases in overdose deaths among teens and young adults from illicit drugs, including fentanyl.”
The bill would remove liability protection from social media platforms that fail to remove content related to the sale of illicit drugs on their sites. Guthrie said addressing the overdose crisis will require action from all corners of our society, including the social media platforms.
Currently, Section 230 of the updated Communications Decency Act protects technology companies from being held liable for any content someone else has posted on their site. This has allowed social media companies to avert liability for any messages that contain explicit content and promote illegal activity.
Guthrie’s bill would require social media companies do their part in protecting children, and holding illegal actors accountable for the harmful content they produce.