This bill requires social media platforms and online marketplaces to create clear, machine-readable terms of service in plain language that explain content moderation policies, user rights, and reporting procedures. It mandates specific consumer protection policies covering content removal, user appeals, notifications, and seller protections, along with annual reports to the Federal Trade Commission detailing these practices. The FTC will develop standardized short-form disclosures (like icons) to help consumers understand platform policies. Companies must establish consumer protection programs with dedicated officers, conduct risk assessments, and implement safeguards for consumer protection. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms through the FTC and allows individuals to sue for violations while prohibiting pre-dispute arbitration agreements for such claims.
This bill prohibits social media platforms from offering disappearing messages (like Snapchat's ephemeral chats) to users under 17. It requires platforms to provide parents with easily accessible tools to approve or block private messaging for minors, with direct messaging disabled by default for users under 13. App stores must also display clear warnings to parents when minors attempt to download apps with private messaging features. These requirements apply to all social media platforms defined under the bill, with enforcement handled by the Federal Trade Commission.
The Vets Connect Act (HR 7176) creates a secure online platform allowing veterans to reconnect with fellow service members based on shared military service details (like branch, units, and dates of service) without sharing personal contact information. Veterans must explicitly opt in to appear in the system, and their personal data (phone numbers, email, etc.) is never stored or displayed without their consent. Access is restricted to verified veterans, and the system prohibits commercial use of data, requiring strict security measures and audit logs to protect user privacy. This directly affects veterans seeking to reconnect with peers while ensuring their information remains private and secure.
The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 would strengthen protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court by creating a new definition of "covered person" to include minors under 18 who are victims or witnesses of abuse, exploitation, or kidnapping. The bill requires internet service providers to report apparent child sexual exploitation to the CyberTipline within 60 days, with civil penalties of $50,000-$250,000 per violation and criminal fines up to $1 million for non-compliance. It also creates new civil remedies allowing victims to sue platforms that host or promote child sexual exploitation, with minimum $300,000 in damages. Additionally, large platforms would be required to submit annual reports to the Attorney General and FTC detailing their safety measures and child exploitation on their platforms.
This bill requires social media platforms to create a 24/7 law enforcement portal with direct contact information for investigations and publish a link to it on their homepage. It establishes an FTC advisory committee to develop standardized reporting metrics on how platforms monitor illegal content (like counterfeit drugs or fentanyl advertisements), refer such content to law enforcement, and respond to official requests. Platforms must publicly report annually on these metrics, including response times to subpoenas and referrals made. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the requirements, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices under existing law.
The CHAT Act requires companies that operate companion AI chatbots (software designed to simulate emotional support or friendship) to verify the age of every user before allowing access. For minors under 18, companies must obtain verifiable parental consent, link the minor’s account to a parent’s verified account, and block access to sexually explicit content. The law also mandates companies to monitor for suicidal thoughts in minor interactions and immediately notify parents, while displaying a clear reminder every 60 minutes that the user is interacting with an AI, not a human. These requirements apply to all companies offering such chatbots to U.S. users, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.
S 414, the ADS for Mental Health Services Act, requires major social media platforms and search engines (with over 100 million monthly users) to annually report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on public service advertisements promoting mental, behavioral, or physical health resources. The reports must detail the number and value of such ads, including those highlighting free local services or addressing issues like suicide prevention, addiction, or social isolation. The FTC must then summarize this data for Congress annually, without altering existing privacy or data security laws. This bill directly affects large digital platforms by mandating transparency about health-focused public service advertising.
HR 1623 (the SCREEN Act) requires online platforms that profit from hosting pornographic content to implement age verification technology, preventing minors from accessing such material. Covered platforms must publicly disclose their verification process and securely handle age data collected through these systems. The law applies specifically to platforms where pornographic content is a regular business activity, not all websites. It mandates that only adults can access pornographic content on these platforms, without banning the content itself.
The SCAM Act requires online platforms that display paid advertisements (like social media sites) to verify advertiser identities, implement scam detection systems, and remove fraudulent ads within 24 hours of confirmation. It directly affects platforms that accept payment for ads, targeting scams such as fake giveaways, romance scams, and AI impersonations that cost consumers $195 billion in 2024 (per FTC data). Key mechanisms include mandatory identity checks for advertisers, active monitoring systems, and a 72-hour investigation window for reported scams. The law aims to reduce fraud by shifting responsibility to platforms, with enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general.
