NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7581A
SPONSOR: Fahy TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
social media networks to provide and maintain mechanisms for reporting
vaccine misinformation on their platform
PURPOSE:
This legislation would require social media networks to provide and
maintain mechanisms for reporting vaccine misinformation on their plat-
form
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new section to the general business law. Specifically
this legislation defines vaccine misinformation as a public expression,
either verbally, in writing or through images, which intentionally is
misleading about vaccines, vaccine side effects, vaccine compo-
nents,vaccine efficacy, the relationship between illness and vaccines,
or any other substantive information as it relates to vaccines.
This section also defines social media networks, and requires them to
maintain a mechanism for individual users to report and make complaints
of vaccine misinformation. These mechanisms shall be clearly accessible
to users and must be easily accessed from both apps and websites
Further, Each social media network will have to create a clear and
concise policy which includes how a social media network will respond
and address incidents of vaccine misinformation which have been
reported. Such policy shall include a mechanism to provide a direct
response to an individual who has reported possible vaccine misinforma-
tion and how the matter is being handled.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is part of a package aimed at addressing concerns about
misinformation that is spread on social media networks. New Yorkers are
all familiar with the expression if you see something, say something,"
but unfortunately many virtual social media platforms make the process
of "saying something" confusing at best, and impossible at worst. This
legislation seeks to empower users of social media to keep virtual spac-
es safer for all by providing clear and consistent reporting mechanisms
for instances of vaccine misinformation.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day.
