Bots Research Act

HR 7492, the Bots Research Act, directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish a task force to study automated accounts (bots) on social media and their impact on public discourse and elections. The task force, composed of government, academic, nonprofit, and industry experts, must assess what qualifies as a bot, how widely they are used, and how to address harmful uses while protecting free speech. It must submit a report to Congress within one year, covering these issues and considering technological innovation, constitutional rights, and election security. This bill is procedural - it creates a study, not new regulations.