1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Bot Disclosure and Accountability Act of 2019”.
Bot Disclosure and Accountability Act of 2019
A BILL
To protect the right of the American public under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States to receive news and information from disparate sources by regulating the use of automated software programs intended to impersonate or replicate human activity on social media.
2. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government has a compelling interest in—
mitigating the deceptiveness of social media bots, which impersonate human activity online, through public disclosure requirements that impose a minimal burden on rights protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
mitigating the effectiveness of efforts by foreign entities to influence United States elections through the use of social media bots to spread misinformation and propaganda.
3. Public disclosure of software programs intended to impersonate or replicate human activity
Definitions—
In general— In this section—
the term automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online has the meaning given the term by the Commission by regulation under paragraph (2);
the term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission;
the term social media provider means any person that owns or operates a social media website; and
the term social media website means any tool, website, application, or other media that connects users on the internet for the purpose of engaging in dialogue, sharing information, collaborating, and interacting.
Definition by regulation— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to define the term automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online broadly enough so that the definition is not limited to current technology.
Regulations— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to require a social media provider to establish and implement policies and procedures to require a user of a social media website owned or operated by the social media provider to publicly disclose the use of any automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online on the social media website.
Requirements— In promulgating regulations under subsection (b), the Commission shall require a social media provider to establish and implement, for each social media website owned or operated by the social media provider—
a policy that requires any user of the social media website that employs an automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online on the social media website to provide clear and conspicuous notice of the automated program in clear and plain language to any other person or user of the social media website who may be exposed to activities conducted by the automated program;
a process that allows a user of the social media website to provide clear and conspicuous notice to any other person or user as required under paragraph (1);
a process to identify, assess, and verify whether the activity of any user of the social media website is conducted by an automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online;
a process by which the social media provider will take reasonable preventative and corrective action to mitigate efforts by a user to use an automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online without disclosure as required under paragraph (1), which may include suspension or any other action authorized by the Commission;
a process by which the social media provider will remove posts, images, or any other online activity of a user or profile making use of an automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online that is not in compliance with the policy under paragraph (1); and
a process that allows a human user of the social media website the opportunity to demonstrate that the online activity of the user is in compliance with the policy required under paragraph (1) prior to, or immediately following, any mitigation activity described in paragraph (4) or (5).
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any social media provider to permit an automated software program or process intended to impersonate or replicate human activity online on a social media website owned or operated by the social media provider.
Enforcement—
Unfair or deceptive acts or practices— A violation of a regulation promulgated under subsection (b) shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
Powers of Commission—
In general— Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the Commission shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this section.
Privileges and immunities— Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any person who violates subsection (b) shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
Common carriers and nonprofit organizations— Notwithstanding section 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44, 45(a)(2), 46) or any jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, the Commission shall also enforce this section, in the same manner provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, with respect to—
common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto; and
organizations not organized to carry on business for their own profit or that of their members.
Authority preserved— Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.