,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #babe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #af1 #bjai,mrs4  
,fe9/e9 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to protect ! "r ( ! ,am]ican  
public "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !         
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to       
receive news & in=mation f disp>ate     
s\rces by regulat+ ! use ( automat$     
s(tw>e programs int5d$ to imp]sonate or 
replicate human activity on social m$ia4
  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ 
z ! ,bot ,disclosure & ,acc\ntability   
,act ( #bjai4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds
 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,accord+ to ! ,pew      
,rese>* ,c5t]1 9 #bjje1 only #e p]c5t ( 
adults 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates us$ onl9e      
social m$ia1 b by #bjah1 #fi p]c5t (    
adults 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates report$ us+ "s 
type ( social m$ia1 includ+ #hh p]c5t ( 
adults "u ! age ( #bi1 & #fg p]c5t (    
adults 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates report$ly      
obta9$ "s ( _! news f social m$ia1      

includ+ #gh p]c5t ( adults "u ! age (   
#ej4  7#b7 ,9 #bjaf1 a /udy titl$       
,social bots di/ort ! #bjaf ,u4,s4      
,presid5tial election onl9e discussion  
f\nd t1 dur+ ! #bjaf ,unit$ ,/ates      
presid5tial election1 approximately     
#djj1jjj1 or #ae p]c5t1 ( ! us]s ( !    
social m$ia website ,twitt] :o discuss$ 
! election 7 social m$ia bots4 ,^? bots 
produc$ #c1hjj1jjj tweets1 :i* acc\nt$ =
 #ai p]c5t ( all tweets reg>d+ !        
election4  7#c7 ,9 #bjag1 a report      
publi%$ by rese>*]s f ! ,univ]sity (    
,ox=d & ! ,univ]sity ( ,p5nsylvania     
titl$ ,computational ,propag&a 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates3 ,manufactur+ ,cons5sus   
,onl9e not$ t1 ,accord+ to _m ( ! p     
int]view$ = ! report1 includ+ political 
bot mak]s & campaign p]sonnel1 ! goals (
 bot-driv5 tactics are manifold3 to     
create a b&wagon effect1 to build fake  
social m$ia tr5ds by automatically      
spread+ ha%tags1 & ev5 to suppress !    
op9ions ( ! opposition44  7#d7 ,9       
te/imony be=e ! ,committee on !         

,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate1 repres5tatives f  
,twitt] report$ t1 ( ! #b1geb ,twitt]   
acc\nts associat$ ) ! ,russian          
intellig5ce unit kn[n z ! ,int]net      
,rese>* ,ag5cy1 m ?an #dg p]c5t 7 social
 m$ia bots4  7#e7 ,9 #bjag1 ! ,ox=d     
,int]net ,in/itute f\nd t ,russian      
gov]nm5t social m$ia bots 7 us$ to      
manipulate highly t>get$ & consequ5tial 
segm5ts ( ! electorate ( ! ,unit$       
,/ates4 ,rese>*]s f\nd t1 ( all tweets  
relat$ to ! #bjaf ,unit$ ,/ates         
presid5tial election1 ,russian propag&a 
con/itut$--  7,a7 #dj p]c5t ( su* tweets
 direct$ to ,p5nsylvania resid5ts2  7,b7
 #cd p]c5t ( su* tweets direct$ to      
,mi*igan resid5ts2  7,c7 #cj p]c5t ( su*
 tweets direct$ to ,wiscons9 resid5ts2  
7,d7 #da p]c5t ( su* tweets direct$ to  
,florida resid5ts2  7,e7 #dj p]c5t ( su*
 tweets direct$ to ,nor? ,c>ol9a        
resid5ts2 &  7,f7 #ce p]c5t ( su* tweets
 direct$ to ,ohio resid5ts4  7#f7 ,9    
,associat$ ,press v4 ,unit$ ,/ates1 #cbf
 ,u4,s4 #a 7#aide71 ! ,supreme ,c\rt    

f\nd1 ,x w\ld be /range inde$1 h[ev]1 if
 ! grave conc]n = fre$om ( ! press :i*  
prompt$ adoption ( ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t %\ld
 be read z a comm& t ! gov]nm5t 0 )\t   
p[] to protect t fre$om44  #c4 ,s5se (  
,congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t has a compell+  
int]e/ 9-- 7#a7 mitigat+ ! deceptiv5ess 
( social m$ia bots1 :i* imp]sonate human
 activity onl9e1 ?r\gh public disclosure
 requirem5ts t impose a m9imal burd5 on 
rights protect$ "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !
 ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7  
regulat+ ! use ( social m$ia bots 9     
political adv]tis+1 :i* is int5d$ to    
deceive vot]s & suppress human spee*1 9 
a mann] t does n--  7,a7 di/+ui% betwe5 
political messages bas$ on-- 7i7 cont5t2
 or  7ii7 ! nature ( ! p]son produc+ a  
message2 or  7,b7 impose any aggregate  
limit on political spee*2 &  7#c7       
mitigat+ ! effectiv5ess ( ef=ts by =eign
 entities to influ5ce ,unit$ ,/ates     
elections ?r\gh ! use ( social m$ia bots
 to spread mis9=mation & propag&a4  #d4 

,public disclosure ( s(tw>e programs    
int5d$ to imp]sonate or replicate human 
activity  7a7 ,def9itions  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,9 ?is section-- 7,a7 ! t]m automat$   
s(tw>e program or process int5d$ to     
imp]sonate or replicate human activity  
onl9e has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m by !       
,commission by regulation "u p>agraph   
7#b72  7,b7 ! t]m ,commission means !   
,f$]al ,trade ,commission2  7,c7 ! t]m  
social m$ia provid] means any p]son t   
owns or op]ates a social m$ia website2 &
  7,d7 ! t]m social m$ia website means  
any tool1 website1 application1 or o!r  
m$ia t connects us]s on ! int]net = !   
purpose ( engag+ 9 dialogue1 %>+        
in=mation1 collaborat+1 & int]act+4     
7#b7 ,def9ition by regulation ,n lat]   
?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ! ,commission %all promulgate     
regulations "u section #eec ( title #e1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to def9e ! t]m     
automat$ s(tw>e program or process      
int5d$ to imp]sonate or replicate human 
activity onl9e broadly en\gh s t !      

def9ition is n limit$ to curr5t         
te*nology4  7b7 ,regulations ,n lat] ?an
 #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ! ,commission %all promulgate     
regulations "u section #eec ( title #e1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to require a social
 m$ia provid] to e/abli% & implem5t     
policies & proc$ures to require a us] ( 
a social m$ia website own$ or op]at$ by 
! social m$ia provid] to publically     
disclose ! use ( any automat$ s(tw>e    
program or process int5d$ to imp]sonate 
or replicate human activity onl9e on !  
social m$ia website4  7c7 ,requirem5ts  
,9 promulgat+ regulations "u subsection 
7b71 ! ,commission %all require a social
 m$ia provid] to e/abli% & implem5t1 =  
ea* social m$ia website own$ or op]at$  
by ! social m$ia provid]--  7#a7 a      
policy t requires any us] ( ! social    
m$ia website t employs an automat$      
s(tw>e program or process int5d$ to     
imp]sonate or replicate human activity  
onl9e on ! social m$ia website to       
provide cle> & conspicu\s notice ( !    

automat$ program 9 cle> & pla9 language 
to any o!r p]son or us] ( ! social m$ia 
website :o may be expos$ to activities  
conduct$ by ! automat$ program2  7#b7 a 
process t all[s a us] ( ! social m$ia   
website to provide cle> & conspicu\s    
notice to any o!r p]son or us] z requir$
 "u p>agraph 7#a72  7#c7 a process to   
id5tify1 assess1 & v]ify :e!r ! activity
 ( any us] ( ! social m$ia website is   
conduct$ by an automat$ s(tw>e program  
or process int5d$ to imp]sonate or      
replicate human activity onl9e2  7#d7 a 
process by :i* ! social m$ia provid] w  
take reasonable prev5tative & corrective
 action to mitigate ef=ts by a us] to   
use an automat$ s(tw>e program or       
process int5d$ to imp]sonate or         
replicate human activity onl9e )\t      
disclosure z requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a71  
:i* may include susp5sion or any o!r    
action au?oriz$ by ! ,commission2  7#e7 
a process by :i* ! social m$ia provid] w
 remove po/s1 images1 or any o!r onl9e  
activity ( a us] or pr(ile mak+ use ( an

 automat$ s(tw>e program or process     
int5d$ to imp]sonate or replicate human 
activity onl9e t is n 9 compliance ) !  
policy "u p>agraph 7#a72 &  7#f7 a      
process t all[s a human us] ( ! social  
m$ia website ! opportunity to demon/rate
 t ! onl9e activity ( ! us] is 9        
compliance ) ! policy requir$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 prior to1 or imm$iately   
foll[+1 any mitigation activity describ$
 9 p>agraph 7#d7 or 7#e74  7d7 ,rule (  
con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be 
con/ru$ to require any social m$ia      
provid] to p]mit an automat$ s(tw>e     
program or process int5d$ to imp]sonate 
or replicate human activity onl9e on a  
social m$ia website own$ or op]at$ by ! 
social m$ia provid]4  7e7 ,en=cem5t     
7#a7 ,unfair or deceptive acts or       
practices ,a violation ( a regulation   
promulgat$ "u subsection 7b7 %all be    
treat$ z a violation ( a rule def9+ an  
unfair or deceptive act or practice     
prescrib$ "u section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 ( 
! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae   

,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b774  7#b7     
,p[]s ( ,commission  7,a7 ,9 g5]al      
,except z provid$ 9 subp>agraph 7,c71 ! 
,commission %all en=ce ?is section 9 !  
same mann]1 by ! same means1 & ) ! same 
jurisdiction1 p[]s1 & duties z ?\gh all 
applicable t]ms & provisions ( ! ,f$]al 
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#da et seq47 7 incorporat$ into & made a
 "p ( ?is section4  7,b7 ,privileges &  
immunities ,except z provid$ 9          
subp>agraph 7,c71 any p]son :o violates 
subsection 7b7 %all be subject to !     
p5alties & entitl$ to ! privileges &    
immunities provid$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,trade    
,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et  
seq474  7,c7 ,common c>ri]s & nonpr(it  
organizations ,not)/&+ section #d1      
#e7;a77#b71 or #f ( ! ,f$]al ,trade     
,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dd1    
#de7;a77#b71 #df7 or any jurisdictional 
limitation ( ! ,commission1 !           
,commission %all also en=ce ?is section1
 9 ! same mann] provid$ 9 subp>agraphs  
7,a7 & 7,b7 ( ?is p>agraph1 ) respect   

to--  7i7 common c>ri]s subject to !    
,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg       
,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 & ,acts         
am5datory !re( & supplem5t>y !reto2 &   
7ii7 organizations n organiz$ to c>ry on
 bus9ess = _! own pr(it or t ( _!       
memb]s4  7,d7 ,au?ority pres]v$ ,no?+ 9 
?is section %all be con/ru$ to limit !  
au?ority ( ! ,commission "u any o!r     
provision ( law4  #e4 ,prohibition on   
automat$ s(tw>e programs int5d$ to      
imp]sonate or replicate human activity =
 onl9e political adv]tis+ ,title ,,iii (
 ! ,f$]al ,election ,campaign ,act (    
#aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja et seq47 is 
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
section3  #cbe4 ,prohibition on ! use ( 
c]ta9 automat$ s(tw>e programs =        
political adv]tis+  7a7 ,prohibition    
7#a7 ,c&idates & political p>ties ,no   
c&idate 7includ+ any au?oriz$ committee 
( a c&idate7 or political p>ty may--    
7,a7 use or cause to be us$ any automat$
 s(tw>e programs or processes int5d$ to 
imp]sonate or replicate human activity  

onl9e to make1 amplify1 %>e1 or o!rwise 
dissem9ate any public communication2 or 
7,b7 solicit1 accept1 pur*ase or sell   
any automat$ s(tw>e programs or         
processes int5d$ to imp]sonate or       
replicate human activity onl9e = any    
purpose4  7#b7 ,political committees1   
corporations1 & labor organizations ,no 
political committee1 corporation1 or    
labor organization 7z def9$ 9 section   
#caf7;b77 may-- 7,a7 use or cause to be 
us$ any automat$ s(tw>e programs or     
processes int5d$ to imp]sonate or       
replicate human activity onl9e to make1 
amplify1 %>e1 or o!rwise dissem9ate--   
7i7 any message t expressly advocates = 
! election or defeat ( a c&idate2 or    
7ii7 or any communication :i* w\ld be an
 electione]+ communication z def9$ 9    
section #cjd7;f77#c7 if su* section 7   
appli$--  7,i7 by tak+ into acc\nt      
communications made ov] ! ,int]net2     
7,,ii7 )\t reg>d to subp>agraph         
7,a77i77,,iii7 !re( ) respect to        
communications describ$ 9 subclause     

7,i72 &  7,,iii7 by treat+ ! facilities 
( any onl9e or digital newspap]1        
magaz9e1 blog1 publication1 or p]iodical
 9 ! same mann] ! facilities ( a        
broadca/+ /ation = purposes (           
subp>agraph 7,b77i72 or  7,b7 solicit1  
accept1 pur*ase or sell any automat$    
s(tw>e programs or processes int5d$ to  
imp]sonate or replicate human activity  
onl9e = any purpose describ$ 9          
subp>agraph 7,a74  7b7 ,exception ,!    
prohibition 9 subsection 7a7 %all n     
apply to any int]nal or adm9i/rative    
sy/ems t are n ori5t$ or accessible to !
 public4  7c7 ,def9ition ,= purposes (  
?is section1 ! t]m automat$ s(tw>e      
program or process int5d$ to imp]sonate 
or replicate human activity onl9e has ! 
mean+ giv5 su* t]m "u section #d ( !    
,bot ,disclosure & ,acc\ntability ,act (
 #bjai4  4