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HR 9133

Accountability for Government Censorship Act

119th Congress Introduced by Scott Perry

The bill requires federal agencies to document and report any official communications with private platforms about removing or restricting speech, increasing transparency and overs

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9133

Summary of HR 9133 — Accountability for Government Censorship Act

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a framework to document and report on any communications by federal agencies with non-government platforms (including interactive computer services) about removing, restricting, or altering lawful speech.
  • Aims to increase transparency and oversight of potential government actions that influence content on private or non-federal platforms.

Key provisions and changes

  • Reporting by federal agencies (a)

    • Within 90 days after enactment, each agency head must submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing any instance in the 5-year period prior to enactment where an agency officer or employee communicated with a platform not owned/operated by the federal government for purposes including:
    • Removing or suppressing lawful speech (in whole or part)
    • Adding disclaimers or alerts to lawful speech
    • Removing or restricting access to a platform
    • For each listed communication, the report must include:
    • Sub-agency, bureau, or office and the involved officer/employee (with position and direct supervisors)
    • The statutory authority for the communication (or an explanation if none exists)
    • The platform and specific platform personnel involved
    • Written justification for the communication
    • Written summary of the outcome
    • Any other agency involvement or coordination
    • If an agency did not engage in any such communication during the past 5 years, the agency head must certify this within 90 days of enactment.

  • OMB reporting to Congress (b)

    • Within 210 days after enactment, the Director must submit a report to specified committees (Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; House Oversight and Accountability) containing:
    • The agency communications reported under (a)
    • A summary of communications organized by platform
    • The report (including summaries and descriptions) must be provided in unclassified form; a classified annex may be included if necessary.

  • Inspector General oversight (c)

    • Within 210 days after enactment, each agency IG that submits a report or certification must review the agency’s compliance with the Act and report findings to the same Senate and House committees.
    • If an agency is found noncompliant, the IG-announced noncompliance requires the agency to brief the specified congressional committees within 60 days.

  • Definitions (d)

    • “Agency” follows the standard 5 U.S.C. 551(1) definition and includes offices within the Executive Office of the President.
    • “Director” means the Director of the OMB.
    • “Interactive computer service” follows the meaning in 47 U.S.C. 230(f) (commonly including third-party platforms and services).

Who/what is affected

  • Federal agencies and their officers/employees who interact with non-government platforms regarding speech content.
  • Platforms (including social media and other private/interactive services) that receive communications from the government about speech content.
  • Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the central collector and organizer of agency reports and the primary conduit to Congress.
  • Inspectors General for each agency, charged with evaluating compliance and reporting findings.
  • Congressional committees (Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; House Oversight and Accountability) for oversight and briefing.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Immediate reporting requirements:
    • 90 days after enactment: agencies provide initial reports and certifications for the prior 5-year period.
  • Congressional reporting:
    • 210 days after enactment: OMB delivers unclassified (and potentially classified) report to Congress, with a structured summary by platform.
  • Oversight:
    • IG reviews due within 210 days; noncompliance triggers a mandatory briefing within 60 days of IG findings.
  • Definitions and scope:
    • Applies to communications about removing, suppressing, or modifying speech, or restricting access on non-federal platforms.
    • Covers both the authority and justification for such communications, plus coordination with other agencies.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Creates formal documentation and public (unclassified) reporting of any government efforts to influence content on private platforms.
  • Enhances congressional and IG oversight of potential censorship-related activities by federal agencies.
  • Could affect interagency communications strategies and the way agencies justify policies related to content moderation on third-party platforms.
  • The act relies on retrospective five-year data and could require substantial compilation from multiple agencies; there is a mechanism for certification if no communications occurred.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as introduced and action history up to the stated reference.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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