S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
577
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 5, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to prohibiting
the knowing and reckless promotion of unlawful or false material and
providing remedies for the violation of such prohibition
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new
article 18-D to read as follows:
ARTICLE 18-D
KNOWING AND RECKLESS PROMOTION OF UNLAWFUL OR FALSE MATERIAL
SECTION 18-500. DEFINITIONS.
18-501. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.
18-502. PUBLIC NUISANCE.
18-503. ENFORCEMENT.
18-504. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
§ 18-500. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, BOTH "KNOW-
INGLY" AND "RECKLESSLY" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 15.05 OF THE PENAL LAW.
§ 18-501. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES. NO PERSON, BY CONDUCT EITHER UNLAWFUL
IN ITSELF OR UNREASONABLE UNDER ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHALL KNOWINGLY
OR RECKLESSLY CREATE, MAINTAIN OR CONTRIBUTE TO A CONDITION IN NEW YORK
STATE THAT ENDANGERS THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE
PROMOTION OF CONTENT, INCLUDING THROUGH THE USE OF ALGORITHMS OR OTHER
AUTOMATED SYSTEMS THAT PRIORITIZE CONTENT BY A METHOD OTHER THAN SOLELY
BY TIME AND DATE SUCH CONTENT WAS CREATED, THE PERSON KNOWS OR REASON-
ABLY SHOULD KNOW:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02648-01-3
S. 577 2
1. ADVOCATES FOR THE USE OF FORCE, IS DIRECTED TO INCITING OR PRODUC-
ING IMMINENT LAWLESS ACTION, AND IS LIKELY TO INCITE OR PRODUCE SUCH
ACTION;
2. ADVOCATES FOR SELF-HARM, IS DIRECTED TO INCITING OR PRODUCING IMMI-
NENT SELF-HARM, AND IS LIKELY TO INCITE OR PRODUCE SUCH ACTION; OR
3. INCLUDES A FALSE STATEMENT OF FACT OR FRAUDULENT MEDICAL THEORY
THAT IS LIKELY TO ENDANGER THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC.
§ 18-502. PUBLIC NUISANCE. 1. A VIOLATION OF SECTION 18-501 OF THIS
ARTICLE THAT RESULTS IN HARM TO THE PUBLIC SHALL HEREBY BE DECLARED TO
BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
2. THE EXISTENCE OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION
SHALL NOT DEPEND ON WHETHER THE PERSON ACTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING
HARM TO THE PUBLIC.
§ 18-503. ENFORCEMENT. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS
ARTICLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, OR A CITY CORPORATION COUNSEL ON BEHALF OF THE LOCALITY, MAY
BRING AN ACTION IN THE SUPREME COURT OR FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT TO ENJOIN
AND RESTRAIN SUCH VIOLATIONS AND TO OBTAIN RESTITUTION AND DAMAGES.
§ 18-504. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR
ASSOCIATION THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF A PERSON'S ACTS OR
OMISSIONS IN VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO BRING AN
ACTION FOR RECOVERY OF DAMAGES OR TO ENFORCE THIS ARTICLE IN THE SUPREME
COURT OR FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.