A bill to waive immunity under section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 for claims and charges related to generative artificial intelligence.
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (14 Jun 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
This bill, S. 1993, would amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934. Section 230 generally protects online platforms and users from being held legally responsible for content created by third parties. This bill proposes to remove that protection specifically when the legal claims or charges involve the use or provision of generative artificial intelligence. Generative artificial intelligence is defined in the bill as AI systems that can create new text, video, images, audio, and other media based on user input.
The bill would affect providers of interactive computer services that use or offer generative AI. If enacted, these providers could potentially be held liable for claims or charges arising from the generative AI's output, whereas they are generally protected from such liability for other third-party content. The bill does not apply to certain specific protections within Section 230, namely those related to the removal or moderating of objectionable material.
S. 1993 was introduced in the Senate on June 14, 2023, by Senator Josh Hawley and is co-sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal. It has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As it has just been introduced, the bill's next steps would involve committee review and potential hearings. If it were to pass the Senate, it would then proceed to the House of Representatives.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill limits federal liability protection, sometimes referred to as Section 230 protection, that generally precludes providers and users of an interactive computer service from being held legally responsible for content provided by a third party.
Specifically, the bill removes the protection if the conduct giving rise to the liability involves the use or provision of generative artificial intelligence (i.e., an artificial intelligence system that is capable of generating novel text, video, images, audio, and other media based on prompts or other forms of data provided by a person).
Timeline
14 Jun 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 1993 do?
- This bill, S. 1993, would amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934. Section 230 generally protects online platforms and users from being held legally responsible for content created by third parties. This bill proposes to remove that protection specifically when the legal claims or charges involve the use or provision of generative artificial intelligence. Generative artificial intelligence is defined in the bill as AI systems that can create new text, video, images, audio, and other media based on user input. The bill would affect providers of interactive computer services that use or offer generative AI. If enacted, these providers could potentially be held liable for claims or charges arising from the generative AI's output, whereas they are generally protected from such liability for other third-party content. The bill does not apply to certain specific protections within Section 230, namely those related to the removal or moderating of objectionable material. S. 1993 was introduced in the Senate on June 14, 2023, by Senator Josh Hawley and is co-sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal. It has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As it has just been introduced, the bill's next steps would involve committee review and potential hearings. If it were to pass the Senate, it would then proceed to the House of Representatives.
- Has S. 1993 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1993. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1993?
- S. 1993 was sponsored by Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] (R-MO), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1993?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (14 Jun 2023).
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