JAWBONE Act

The JAWBONE Act prohibits federal agencies and employees from coercing private platforms like social media sites, broadcasters, or artificial intelligence providers into removing or altering content. To enforce this rule, the bill creates a new legal cause of action that allows these platforms to sue for damages if they are pressured into taking content actions, with specific exceptions for lawful investigations and court-ordered warrants. The legislation also mandates the creation of a public portal where agencies must log and disclose communications sent to these platforms regarding content moderation, including metadata and requests for action. Additionally, the bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop guidelines for logging these communications and establishes a formal complaint process for platforms to report potential violations.