Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Transparency in Enforcement, Restricting, and Monitoring of Services Act” or the “TERMS Act”.
Transparency in Enforcement, Restricting, and Monitoring of Services Act
A BILL
To require online service providers to disclose their acceptable use policies, provide users with written notice before the termination of a user's account, and publish an annual report detailing actions taken to enforce their acceptable use policies, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that consumers, businesses, and organizations seeking to use the products or services of an online service provider have sufficient information regarding the online service provider’s commercial business standards, processes, and policies with respect to the unilateral termination, suspension, or cancellation of user accounts or ability to use the online service provider’s products or services. Such information allows consumers to make informed choices regarding their decision to use or purchase the services or products of an online service provider and promotes a competitive marketplace for such products or services.
Sec. 3 Definitions
In this Act:
Commission— The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission.
Nonprofit organization— The term nonprofit organization has the meaning given such term in section 201(i) of title 35, United States Code.
Online service provider— The term online service provider—
means the provider of a public-facing website, online service, or online application directed to a consumer or organization that—
requires any person who wishes to use the website, online service, or online application to create a unique account or profile for such website, service, or application;
provides an internet-based product or service to the general public that is accessible through the website, online service, or online application; and
is engaged in interstate or foreign commerce; and
includes any entity described in subparagraph (A), regardless of whether—
offering a product or service to the general public is the sole source of income or principal business of such entity; or
the entity earns a profit on a product or service.
Restrict— The term restrict, with respect to a user, means an online service provider's termination or suspension of a user's account or profile on the online service provider's website, online service, or online application, or limitation of the user's access thereto based on a determination that the user violated the online service provider's acceptable use policy.
User— The term user means, with respect to an online service provider, a person who registers an account or creates a profile on the website, online service, or online application of the online service provider.
Sec. 4 Disclosure of acceptable use policies
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and subject to subsection (b), an online service provider shall publicly disclose in an easily accessible manner, such as within terms of service available on the online service provider's website, an acceptable use policy that concisely and accurately describes, in easy to understand language, information regarding the standards, processes, and policies of the online service provider with respect to any decision by the online service provider to restrict a user.
Required information— For purposes of subsection (a), an online service provider shall include the following information in an acceptable use policy:
An explanation of what specific acts or practices are prohibited by the online service provider that could lead to a decision by the online service provider to restrict a user.
An explanation of how the online service provider enforces the acceptable use policy, including any third party the online service provider relies upon, in whole or in part, to assist in the enforcement of the acceptable use policy by the online service provider.
Either—
an explanation of how a user can appeal, if applicable, a decision by an online service provider to restrict a user; or
if the online service provider does not permit an appeal or reconsideration of a decision to restrict a user, a statement that such decision is not appealable or subject to reconsideration.
An explanation of whether acts or practices a user commits entirely outside of the website, online service, or online application of the online service provider, such as social media posts, public statements, media publications, and third-party resources, may be a sufficient basis alone or in combination with other information to restrict a user.
An explanation of the online service provider’s standards, processes, and policies with respect to the notice requirement described in section 5.
Sec. 5 Advance written notice prior to termination or suspension
Notice requirement—
In general— Except as described in subsection (b), an online service provider shall provide advance written notice to a user in violation of the online service provider's acceptable use policy prior to restricting the user.
Required information— The advance written notice required under paragraph (1) shall include the following information:
The specific act or practice of the user that led to the decision to restrict the user.
A description of how the act or practice identified in subparagraph (A) violated the acceptable use policy.
Whether the user has an option to appeal the decision, and, if so, a description of the process for how the user can appeal the online service provider's decision, consistent with the acceptable use policy.
A description of the option for the user to elect that the online service provider publicly disclose such written notice as described in paragraph (4).
Advance written notice—
In general— For the purposes of this section, an online service provider will be deemed to have provided an advance written notice to a user if such provider makes a good faith effort to notify the user not later than 7 days prior to restricting the user.
Good faith effort— For the purposes of subparagraph (A), a good faith effort may include—
a notification to the most recent email address or other contact information the user provided to the online service provider; or
if the online service provider does not have any contact information of the user, a highly visible notice that is displayed to the user on the online service provider's website, service, or application when the user next accesses such website, service, or application.
Public disclosure— An online service provider shall—
provide to any user issued a written notice under paragraph (1) an option for the online service provider to publicly disclose such notice; and
if such user chooses to have such notice publicly disclosed, publish such notice on the website of the online service provider.
Exceptions for court action or imminent risk of harm— An online service provider may restrict a user without advance written notice if—
such restriction was done to—
comply with a lawful order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
protect against an imminent risk of—
death;
a serious physical injury; or
a serious health risk; and
the online service provider provides the user the information required by subsection (a)(2) and publicly discloses the written notice at the same time that the provider restricts the user or as soon as practicable thereafter.
Effective date— The requirements of this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 6 Reporting requirements
Annual report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter on a date to be determined by each online service provider, an online service provider shall publish, with an open license, in both a format easily read by humans and a machine-readable format, in a location on their public website that is easily accessible to users, and consistent with the requirements described in subsections (b) and (c), a report detailing actions taken to enforce the online service provider's acceptable use policy.
Report requirements— The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following information with respect to the applicable reporting period:
The total number of instances in which the online service provider was alerted of a potential violation of the acceptable use policy by—
a user complaint;
an employee of, or a person contracting with, the online service provider;
an internal automated detection tool of the online service provider;
a government entity, including the specific office or entity that alerted the online service provider;
a nonprofit organization; or
any other person.
Subject to subsection (c), the number of instances in which the online service provider took steps to restrict a user, including the number of instances in which the online service provider—
terminated a user's account or profile on the online service provider's website, online service, or online application or otherwise permanently limited access to or use of the product or service of the online service provider;
suspended a user's account or profile on the online service provider's website, online service, or online application;
limited a user's access to the online service provider's website, online service, or online application; or
took any other action, such as issuing a warning, in response to a violation of the acceptable use policy.
The number of instances in which a user appealed the online service provider's decision.
The number of appeals that resulted in a reversal of the online service provider's decision.
Categorization of actions taken— The information described in subsection (b)(2) shall be categorized by—
the exact provision of the acceptable use policy that was violated by a user; and
the source of the alert of the potential violation of the acceptable use policy as described in subsection (b)(1).
Sec. 7 Enforcement
Enforcement by the Commission—
Unfair or deceptive acts or practices— A violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
Powers of the Commission—
In general— Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the Commission shall enforce this Act 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 Act.
Privileges and immunities— Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any online service provider who violates this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act 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.).
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 Act, in the same manner provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B), with respect to organizations not organized to carry on business for their own profit or that of their members.
Authority preserved— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
Enforcement by States—
In general— In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of the State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any online service provider in a practice that violates this Act, the attorney general of the State may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States—
to enjoin further violation of this Act by such online service provider;
to enforce compliance with this Act;
to obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of such residents; and
to obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be appropriate.
Rights of the Commission—
Notice to the Commission—
In general— Except as provided in clause (iii), the attorney general of a State shall notify the Commission in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a civil action under paragraph (1) before initiating the civil action.
Contents— The notification required by clause (i) with respect to a civil action shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action.
Exception— If it is not feasible for the attorney general of a State to provide the notification required by clause (i) before initiating a civil action under paragraph (1), the attorney general shall notify the Commission immediately upon instituting the civil action.
Intervention by the Commission— The Commission may—
intervene in any civil action brought by the attorney general of a State under paragraph (1); and
upon intervening—
be heard on all matters arising in the civil action; and
file petitions for appeal of a decision in the civil action.
Investigatory powers— Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to conduct investigations, to administer oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence.
Preemptive action by the Commission— If the Commission institutes a civil action or an administrative action with respect to a violation of this Act, the attorney general of a State may not, during the pendency of such action, bring a civil action under paragraph (1) against any defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for the violation with respect to which the Commission instituted such action.
Venue; service or process—
Venue— Any action brought under paragraph (1) may be brought in—
the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or
another court of competent jurisdiction.
Service of process— In an action brought under paragraph (1), process may be served in any district in which the defendant—
is an inhabitant; or
may be found.
Actions by other State officials—
In general— In addition to civil actions brought by attorneys general under paragraph (1), any other officer of a State who is authorized by the State to do so may bring a civil action under paragraph (1), subject to the same requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection to civil actions brought by attorneys general.
Savings provision— Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the State.
Commission guidance—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue guidance to assist online service providers in complying with the requirements of this Act, which shall include the provision of best practices and examples.
Limitation on guidance— No guidance issued by the Commission with respect to this Act shall—
confer any rights on any person, State, or locality; or
operate to bind the Commission or any person to the approach recommended in such guidance.
Use in enforcement actions— In any enforcement action brought pursuant to this Act—
the Commission or State attorney general, as applicable—
shall allege a specific violation of a provision of this Act; and
may not base such enforcement on, or execute a consent order based on, practices that are alleged to be inconsistent with any guidance issued by the Commission with respect to this Act, unless the practices are alleged to violate a provision of this Act; and
a person may use compliance with any such guidance as evidence of compliance with this Act.