Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, along with Senator Lindsey Graham and Ranking Member Dick Durbin, has introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act. This bipartisan legislation proposes to repeal Section 230 immunity two years after its enactment, aiming to allow individuals harmed by online platforms to pursue legal action against those platforms.
Grassley stated, “For nearly 30 years, Section 230 has provided Big Tech cover as they turn a blind eye to heinous crimes committed on its platforms. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I’m glad to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to update our nation’s laws, rein in Section 230 and hold Big Tech accountable.”
Graham added, “I am extremely pleased that there is such wide and deep bipartisan support for repealing Section 230, which protects social media companies from being sued by the people whose lives they destroy. Giant social media platforms are unregulated, immune from lawsuits and are making billions of dollars in advertising revenue off some of the most unsavory content and criminal activity imaginable. It is past time to allow those who have been harmed by these behemoths to have their day in court.”
Durbin said, “Children are being exploited and abused because Big Tech consistently prioritizes profits over people. Enough is enough. Sunsetting Section 230 will force Big Tech to come to the table and take ownership over the harms it has wrought. And if Big Tech doesn’t, this bill will open the courtroom to victims of its platforms. Parents have been begging Congress to step in, and it’s time we do so. I’m proud to partner with Senator Graham on this effort, and we will push for it to become law.”
The bill also has support from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Josh Hawley, Amy Klobuchar, Marsha Blackburn, Richard Blumenthal, Ashley Moody and Peter Welch—all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Section 230 was enacted as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It provides legal immunity for online platforms regarding third-party content posted on their sites. The provision was initially intended so internet companies could moderate user content without fear of lawsuits; however, many current online entities are now among the world’s largest companies and rely on this immunity for protection from accountability.
In addition to legislative efforts like this one, Grassley chaired two committee hearings in 2025 focused on online safety and child exploitation issues. He also partnered with Durbin on three bipartisan bills targeting violent online criminals.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays a significant role in shaping constitutional protections and public safety across the United States through its legislative work and oversight responsibilities (official website). The committee reviews legislation related to criminal justice and civil liberties while overseeing federal agencies (official website). Its members include senators from both major parties under leadership roles such as chairperson (official website). The committee operates out of Washington D.C., influencing federal law nationwide (official website).
