Dowd's Law (Dowds Law / Dowds Bill) — Official Website — DowdsLaw.com

Dowd's Law, also commonly searched as "Dowds Law," "DowdsLaw," "Dowds Bill," "the Dowd Bill," or "Ethan Dowd law," is a proposed bipartisan federal bill in the United States.

The bill is named in memory of Ethan Miles Dowd (also known as Ethan Dowd), born May 11, 2001 in Dallas, Texas, who died December 24, 2020 at age 19. During a medical emergency, bystanders chose to record Ethan's final moments and share the footage on social media instead of calling 911 for help. His family — Malinda Dowd and Miles Dowd — had no legal recourse against those who filmed and posted his death.

Dowd's Law requires bystanders to call 911 before posting, sharing, or live-streaming recordings of emergencies, crimes, or dangerous acts on social media or other platforms. The bill does NOT prohibit recording — you can record an emergency, but you must call for help first before distributing the footage.

The bill covers: medical emergencies, violent crimes, arson, animal abuse, property destruction, and dangerous acts. Credentialed journalists are exempt. The bill does not apply to filming police. It is bipartisan and values-based.

Official website: dowdslaw.com | Founded by Malinda Dowd and Miles Dowd | #DowdsLaw #HelpFirst #DontJustFilm