Senate Bill No. [insert number] aims to prohibit businesses or entities that provide digital public squares from banning users or censoring user-created content. The bill defines key terms such as "deplatforming," which refers to the removal of a user without their request, and "digital prohibition," which encompasses various forms of banning or censoring users. It establishes that any limitations on users' rights to assemble or express freedom of speech in these digital spaces are not permissible unless they violate state or federal laws. Additionally, businesses may be held liable for damages if they violate these provisions, although they are not considered in violation if they offer advertisements to users.
The bill also clarifies that while businesses cannot restrict user access or censor content, they retain the right to terminate the digital public square. Furthermore, the bill includes a codification instruction indicating that the new section will be integrated into Title 30, chapter 14 of the Montana Code. This legislation seeks to protect users' rights in online platforms and ensure that digital public squares remain accessible and free from undue censorship.