STOP HATE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5681
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-03: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T19:29:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Stopping Terrorists Online Presence and Holding Accountable Tech Entities Act of 2025" (also known as the "STOP HATE Act of 2025") aims to increase transparency and accountability for large social media companies in moderating content related to designated terrorist organizations. It requires these companies to publicly disclose and report on their policies and actions to limit the online presence of such groups, helping to combat terrorism while ensuring users can easily understand and report violations.
Key Provisions
- Publication of Terms of Service: Within 180 days of enactment, social media companies must publish their terms of service (rules governing user behavior) for each platform, specifically addressing content from foreign terrorist organizations (designated under the Immigration and Nationality Act) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (under Executive Order 13224). These must be accessible to all users.
- Additional Public Information: Companies must also publish:
- Contact details for user inquiries about the terms.
- A clear description of how users can flag (report) violating content, users, or groups, including the company's promised response times.
- A list of possible actions the company can take against violations (e.g., removal or restrictions).
- Triannual Reporting to the Attorney General: Companies must submit detailed reports every three months (first report due 360 days after enactment, then by January 31, April 30, and October 31 annually). Reports include:
- Current terms of service versions.
- Data on violations, such as numbers of flagged items, actions taken (e.g., removals, demonetization—removing ability to earn money—or deprioritization—reducing visibility), views/shares before action, appeals, and reversals.
- Disaggregated data by content category (e.g., posts, comments, videos), flagging method (e.g., users, AI, employees), and action method.
- Analysis of trends over time compared to prior reports.
- Public Access to Reports: The Attorney General must post all submitted reports in a searchable online repository on the Department of Justice website.
- Enforcement and Penalties: The Attorney General can impose civil penalties up to $5,000,000 per violation per day for failures like not publishing terms, missing reports, or misrepresenting data.
- Government Assessments:
- The Director of National Intelligence must submit a National Intelligence Estimate (a comprehensive assessment) to Congress within 360 days on how terrorists use social media platforms, with an unclassified version published online 30 days later.
- The Comptroller General (head of the Government Accountability Office) must submit implementation reports to Congress 540 days after enactment and again 540 days later.
- Sunset Clause: The law expires 5 years after enactment.
- Definitions:
- Actioned: Content or users penalized (e.g., removed, demonetized, banned).
- Content: User-generated statements, comments, or media (text, images, videos) on interactive platforms; excludes cloud storage or file-sharing services.
- Social Media Platform: Websites or apps under Federal Trade Commission oversight with at least 25 million unique monthly U.S. users for most of the past year, allowing user profiles, content sharing, and interactions (primarily for user-generated content and ads).
- Social Media Company: Owners or operators of such platforms.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new federal requirements for transparency and reporting on social media moderation of terrorism-related content, which were not previously mandated. It builds on existing designations of terrorist groups but adds specific obligations for platforms to disclose policies and enforcement data, without altering broader laws like Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (which generally shields platforms from liability for user content). No direct amendments to prior laws are specified.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Justice (handling reports and penalties), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (producing assessments), and Government Accountability Office (evaluating implementation). Enhances federal oversight of online terrorism without creating new agencies.
- Citizens and Users: Improves user awareness and ability to report terrorist content, potentially leading to faster removals and reduced exposure to harmful material. However, it may not directly affect everyday users unless they interact with flagged content.
- International Relations: Could pressure global platforms to strengthen anti-terrorism measures, indirectly supporting U.S. counterterrorism efforts abroad by limiting terrorists' recruitment and propaganda reach. No direct provisions for foreign governments, but data shared publicly might inform international cooperation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Social Media Companies: Large platforms (e.g., those with 25+ million U.S. users like Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok) face new compliance costs, reporting burdens, and penalties for non-compliance.
- Users and the Public: Benefit from clearer policies and easier reporting, gaining insights into platform moderation via public reports.
- Government Entities: Attorney General (enforcement), Director of National Intelligence (intelligence assessment), and Comptroller General (oversight reports) are directly involved.
- Terrorist Organizations and Individuals: Designated groups face heightened scrutiny and potential restrictions on their online activities, limiting their visibility and outreach.
- Civil Society and Moderators: Partners (e.g., community moderators, NGOs) may play a larger role in flagging content, with their contributions tracked in reports.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Establishes civil enforcement by the Attorney General, potentially leading to lawsuits for non-compliance. Emphasizes data accuracy in reports, which could invite scrutiny over platform algorithms and moderation practices.
- Constitutional Implications: Includes a "rule of construction" stating it does not infringe on First Amendment free speech rights, aiming to avoid challenges by focusing on transparency rather than mandating specific content removals. Reports must comply with privacy laws like the Privacy Act of 1974 to protect user data.
- Political Implications: Promotes accountability for tech companies in national security, potentially sparking debates on balancing anti-terrorism with platform autonomy and user privacy. The 5-year sunset allows for periodic review, reflecting a temporary approach to a sensitive issue.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-03: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-03: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stopping Terrorists Online Presence and Holding Accountable Tech Entities Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-03 — PDF (11 pages)