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United States of America: Content moderation regulation in Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18)

Progress

Current status
under deliberation
24 Jul 2026 under deliberation
13 Jun 2023 adopted
28 May 2023 adopted
26 Apr 2023 under deliberation
18 Apr 2023 under deliberation
23 Feb 2023 under deliberation

Scope

Implementers
United States of America
Policy Area
Content moderation
Policy Instrument
Content moderation regulation
Regulated Economic Activity
online advertising provider
platform intermediary: user-generated content
streaming service provider
platform intermediary: e-commerce
software provider: app stores
search service provider
software provider: other software
messaging service provider
platform intermediary: other
Government Branch
judiciary
legislature
Government Body
court
parliament
Implementation Level
subnational

Timeline of events

24 Jul 2026
under deliberation

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirms Section 230 preemption of Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/HB 18) content-filtering requirement, and vacates injunctions on advertising and age-verification requirements

On 24 July 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled on consolidated appeals concerning the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act). The court held that the requirement for digital service pro…

Event type law
Action type amendment
Government branch judiciary
Government body court
13 Jun 2023
adopted

Signed Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation

On 13 June 2023, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18), including content moderation regulation, was signed into law by the Governor of Texas. The Act would impose a duty on digital service providers to pre…

Event type law
Action type signing
Government branch legislature
Government body parliament
28 May 2023
adopted

Adopted Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation

On 28 May 2023, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18), including content moderation regulation, was adopted by the Texas House of Representatives House. The Act would impose a duty on digital service provid…

Event type law
Action type adoption
Government branch legislature
Government body parliament
26 Apr 2023
under deliberation

Passed Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation

On 26 April 2023, the Texas House of Representatives passed the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation. The Bill would impose a duty on digital service providers to preven…

Event type law
Action type passage
Government branch legislature
Government body parliament
18 Apr 2023
under deliberation

Amended Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation

On 18 April 2023, the Texas House of Representatives amended the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation. The amended Bill changes the nature of the duty imposed on digital…

Event type law
Action type amendment
Government branch legislature
Government body parliament
23 Feb 2023
under deliberation

Introduced Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18) including content moderation regulation

On 23 February 2023, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act/ HB 18), including content moderation regulation was introduced in the Texas Legislature. The Bill would impose a duty on digital service providers to prev…

Event type law
Action type introduction
Government branch legislature
Government body parliament