New York S 3098: Establishes the internet media freedom task force

Bill Text

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S03098 Summary:

BILL NOS03098 

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Establishes the internet media freedom task force to study the practices and policies of social media companies that allow the posting of third-party content by users, as well as other issues relating to dissemination of such content, including but not limited to, forms of censorship employed by social media companies.

Go to top S03098 Actions:

BILL NOS03098 

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01/23/2025REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY

Go to topS03098 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS03098 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS03098 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 3098

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 23, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology

 AN ACT to establish the internet media freedom task force; and providing
 for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The twenty-first century has seen an
 2 increasing reliance upon social media as a source of news and informa-
 3 tion. Social media platforms allow third-party users to post content on
 4 an unlimited number of issues, and, unfortunately, though not solely
 5 designed or intended for such use, more and more people have come to
 6 rely on these third-party postings as their main source of news. Some
 7 social media platforms have recently taken it upon themselves to act as
 8 arbiters of truth, and have even gone so far as to block access to the
 9 President of the United States. Given the expanding use of, and reliance
 10 on, these social media platforms as a source of news, it is imperative
 11 that use of such platforms be open and maintained for all people to
 12 ensure that no perspective or piece of information is barred or blocked
 13 from view by the public at large who has come to rely on such platforms
 14 for information.
 15 § 2. Legislative task force on internet media freedom. A legislative
 16 task force on internet media freedom is hereby established to study the
 17 practices and policies of social media companies that allow the posting
 18 of third-party content by users, as well as other issues relating to
 19 dissemination of such content, including but not limited to, forms of
 20 censorship employed by social media companies. The task force will also
 21 examine the impact social media has on elections, including the ability
 22 of candidates and political parties to access and use the platform and
 23 the use of censorship to unfairly benefit one candidate over another.
 24 § 3. Composition. (a) The task force shall consist of eight members to
 25 be appointed as follows: two members appointed by the speaker of the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD06961-01-5

 S. 3098 2

 1 Assembly, two members appointed by the temporary president of the
 2 Senate, two members appointed by the minority leader of the Assembly,
 3 and two members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. All
 4 appointments made by legislative leaders to the task force shall, to the
 5 extent practicable, have backgrounds in news publishing, including
 6 online media publishing, and/or the study of law.
 7 (b) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
 8 (c) The members of the task force shall elect, by a majority vote, one
 9 of its appointed members to serve as a chair.
 10 § 4. Organization. (a) The task force shall meet for the first time on
 11 May 1, 2025, at which time they shall elect a member to serve as a chair
 12 of the task force pursuant to subdivision (c) of section three of this
 13 act.
 14 (b) The first meeting of the task force shall be held in the State
 15 Capitol, in offices made available to it by the Legislature. The
 16 location of subsequent meetings shall be at the discretion of the chair
 17 of the task force.
 18 (c) The task force shall c