HB 299 Summary: Social Media Platforms

• Establishes legislative findings that individuals have a fundamental interest in free exchange of ideas and that social media platforms with the largest user bases function as common carriers and public forums.

• Defines "social media platform" as any information service with either annual gross revenues exceeding $100 million or at least 100 million monthly global users that does business in Florida; excludes theme parks, email, and primarily non-user-generated content services.

• Requires social media platforms to publish accessible acceptable use policies, provide quarterly transparency reports detailing content moderation actions, and maintain complaint systems with 8-hour-a-day availability and email contact options.

• Mandates platforms evaluate illegal content notices within 24 hours, notify users within 7 days when content is removed with detailed explanations, allow appeals, and respond to user complaints about content removal within 14 days.

• Authorizes Attorney General to bring enforcement actions and recover costs including reasonable attorney fees; allows private cause of action for users with damages up to $100,000 per violation plus actual and punitive damages; takes effect July 1, 2022.