Liability for certain Controlled Substances Act violations

(a)

In general

Part D of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

424.

Liability of interactive computer service providers

(a)

Definition

In this section, the term covered provider means a provider of an interactive computer service, as that term is defined in section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230), that at any point during the 12 months preceding the filing of an indictment or information alleging a violation of subsection (b) or the filing of a complaint in a civil action under subsection (c)—(1)has not fewer than 50,000,000 United States-based monthly active users; or(2)has not fewer than 100,000,000 worldwide monthly active users. (b)

Criminal offense

(1)

Offense

It shall be unlawful for a covered provider that operates through the use of any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, through such service to knowingly or intentionally facilitate a violation of section 401(a)(1), 409, 418, or 419 for distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute or dispense—(A)an opioid or a synthetic opioid; (B)cocaine; or(C)methamphetamine.(2)

Penalty

A covered provider that violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000,000.(c)

Civil action

(1)

In general

The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States against any covered provider that operates through the use of any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, and through such service, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly facilitates a violation of section 401(a)(1), 409, 418, or 419 for distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute or dispense—(A)an opioid or a synthetic opioid; (B)cocaine; or(C)methamphetamine.(2)

Penalty

In a civil action brought under paragraph (1), the Attorney General may recover a civil penalty of not more than $5,000,000.(d)

Rules of construction

(1)

Applicability to legal process

Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any action by a covered provider that is necessary to comply with a valid court order, subpoena, search warrant, statutory obligation, or preservation request from a law enforcement agency.(2)

Mental state with respect to each item required

For purposes of subsections (b) and (c), the terms intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly shall be construed to mean intentionality, knowledge, or recklessness, respectively, with respect to the facilitation of each violation described in those subsections.(e)

Encryption technologies

(1)

Cybersecurity protections do not give rise to liability

A criminal prosecution under subsection (b) or a civil action under subsection (c) may not be brought against a covered provider because the covered provider—(A)utilizes full end-to-end encrypted messaging services, device encryption, or other encryption services;(B)does not possess the information necessary to decrypt a communication; or(C)fails to take an action that would otherwise undermine the ability of the covered provider to offer full end-to-end encrypted messaging services, device encryption, or other encryption services.(2)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this subsection is intended to undermine the use of encryption technology.(f)

Protection of Privacy

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a covered provider to—(1)monitor any user, subscriber, or customer of that covered provider;(2)monitor the content of any communication of any person described in paragraph (1); or(3)affirmatively search, screen, or scan for violations described in subsection (b)(1) or (c)(1).

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 423 the following:

Sec. 424. Liability of interactive computer service providers.