Accountability for Government Censorship Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9133
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T19:19:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to increase transparency regarding communications between federal executive branch agencies and private online platforms about moderating content. It requires detailed reporting on past efforts to influence speech on those platforms.
Key Provisions
- Agency Reporting to OMB: Within 90 days of enactment, each federal agency head must submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing any instances in the prior five years where agency officers or employees contacted platforms to:
- Remove or suppress lawful speech.
- Add disclaimers or alerts to such speech.
- Restrict access to platforms for individuals or entities.
- Required Details in Reports: For each communication, agencies must provide information including the involved sub-agency, names and supervisors of employees, legal authority (or explanation if none exists), platform and specific contacts, justification, outcome, and any other agencies involved.
- Certification Option: If no such communications occurred, agencies submit a formal certification instead.
- OMB Report to Congress: Within 210 days, OMB must compile and submit a report to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, including agency data and a summary organized by platform. Most details must appear in unclassified form.
- Inspector General Oversight: Each agency's Inspector General reviews compliance and reports findings to the same congressional committees within 210 days. Noncompliant agencies must brief Congress within 60 days of the review.
- Definitions: The term "agency" covers most executive branch entities, including offices in the Executive Office of the President. "Interactive computer service" refers to platforms as defined in existing federal law (47 U.S.C. 230(f)).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandatory reporting requirements for executive agencies on historical interactions with private platforms. It does not amend or repeal prior statutes but adds oversight mechanisms tied to existing agency structures and Inspector General authorities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Agencies face new administrative burdens to document and disclose past communications, potentially affecting internal operations and coordination with platforms.
- On Citizens: The requirements could enhance public awareness of government-platform interactions, though direct effects on individuals depend on how reports are used.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions address foreign entities or relations, as the focus remains on domestic executive branch activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal executive agencies and their employees.
- The Office of Management and Budget.
- Congressional oversight committees.
- Agency Inspectors General.
- Private online platforms that received communications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill addresses potential government involvement in content moderation, which touches on free speech protections under the First Amendment by mandating disclosure of past actions. It relies on existing statutory definitions and Inspector General processes without creating new enforcement penalties beyond reporting and briefings. All reports must prioritize unclassified information to support congressional review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Accountability for Government Censorship Act — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (6 pages)