34 U.S.C. § 20917: Checking system for social networking websites

shall not require or permit any social networking website to transmit Internet identifiers of its users to the operator of the system, and shall use secure procedures that preserve the secrecy of the information made available by the Attorney General, including protection measures that render the Internet identifiers and other data elements indecipherable. Upon receiving a matched Internet identifier, the social networking website may make a request of the Attorney General for, and the Attorney General shall provide promptly, information related to the identity of the individual that has registered the matched Internet identifier. This information is limited to the name, sex, resident address, photograph, and physical description. the name and legal status of the website; the contact information for the website; a description of the nature and operations of the website; a statement explaining why the website seeks to use the system; any individual who is denied access to that website on the basis of information obtained through the system is promptly notified of the basis for the denial and has the ability to challenge the denial of access; and if the social networking website finds that information is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, the site immediately notifies the appropriate State registry and the Department of Justice, so that they may delete or correct that information in the respective State and national databases; the identity and address of, and contact information for, any contractor that will be used by the social networking website to use the system; and to protect the safety of the users of such website; and for the limited purpose of making the automated comparison described in subsection (a). A social networking website approved by the Attorney General to use the system may conduct searches under the system as frequently as the Attorney General may allow. provides false information in its application for use of the system; may be using or seeks to use the system for any unlawful or improper purpose; fails to comply with the procedures required under subsection (b)(5); or uses information obtained from the system in any way that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Act. Neither the Attorney General nor a social networking website approved to use the system may release to the public any list of the Internet identifiers of sex offenders contained in the system. The Attorney General shall limit the release of information obtained through the use of the system established under subsection (a) by social networking websites approved to use such system. The use of the system established under subsection (a) by a social networking website shall be conditioned on the website’s agreement to observe the limitations required under this paragraph. This subsection shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Attorney General under any other provision of law to conduct or to allow searches or checks against sex offender registration information. A social networking website approved to use the system shall pay any fee established by the Attorney General for use of the system. A civil claim against a social networking website, including any director, officer, employee, parent, contractor, or agent of that social networking website, arising from the use by such website of the National Sex Offender Registry, may not be brought in any Federal or State court. engaged in intentional misconduct; or with actual malice; with reckless disregard to a substantial risk of causing injury without legal justification; or for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any responsibility or function described in paragraph (3). A social networking website shall minimize the number of employees that are provided access to the Internet identifiers for which a match has been found through the system. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any Internet website, including a social networking website, to use the system, and no Federal or State liability, or any other actionable adverse consequence, shall be imposed on such website based on its decision not to do so.