,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hidf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ba1 #bjbb,mr4 ,valadao introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to require online dating service providers to provide safety awareness and fraud ban notifications to online dating service members and to verify the identity of online dating service members1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,online ,dating ,safety ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,online dating safety 7a7 ,safety awareness notification 7#a7 ,in general ,an online dating service provider shall provide to members of the online dating service a safety awareness notification that includes a list of safety measures reasonably designed to increase awareness of safer online dating practices and clear guidelines and resources for reporting crimes committed by members of the online dating service4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the notification required by paragraph 7#a7 shall meet the following requirements3 7,a7 ,the notification shall have a heading substantially similar to the following3 ,online ,dating ,safety ,awareness4 7,b7 ,the notification shall include the following information 7which may be revised or updated to reflect changing information and best safety practices73 7i7 ,an advisory that getting to know an individual through an online dating service may be risky and a member should follow safety precautions when sharing information or meeting in person4 7ii7 ,an advisory that a member should avoid sharing1 in the dating profile or initial email messages or other communications of the member1 the last name1 email address1 home address1 phone number1 place of work1 ,social ,security number1 details of the daily routine1 or other identifying information of the member4 7iii7 ,an advisory that a member should stop communicating with an individual who pressures the member for personal or financial information or attempts to trick the member into revealing personal or financial information4 7iv7 ,an advisory that a member should not send money to an individual the member meets on an online dating service1 especially by wire transfer1 even if the individual claims to be experiencing an emergency4 7v7 ,an advisory that an individual may provide false information in a dating profile4 7vi7 ,an advisory that a member should block and report to the online dating service provider a member whose behavior is suspicious1 offensive1 harassing1 threatening1 fraudulent1 or involves a request for money or an attempt to sell a product or service4 7vii7 ,a request that1 if a member is the victim or survivor of a crime1 including sexual or intimate partner violence or a financial crime1 committed by someone the member met on the online dating service1 the member report the incident to the online dating service provider and to law enforcement4 7viii7 ,a advisory that1 if a member is the victim or survivor of a crime1 including sexual or intimate partner violence or a financial crime1 committed by someone the member met on the online dating service1 the member is not to blame and may seek support through national or local hotlines and other services4 7#c7 ,method for reporting criminal activity 7,a7 ,in general ,an online dating service provider shall provide a clear and conspicuous method for a member of the online dating service to contact the online dating service provider to report a member of the online dating service who engages in criminal activity1 including an act of sexual or intimate partner violence or a financial crime4 7,b7 ,inclusion in notification ,an online dating service provider shall include information relating to the contact method required by subparagraph 7,a7 in the notification required by paragraph 7#a74 7#d7 ,timing and manner ,an online dating service provider shall clearly and conspicuously provide the notification required by paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 to each member of the online dating service at the time when the member registers with the online dating service provider2 and 7,b7 through a link that may be accessed by members of the online dating service at any time on-- 7i7 the main website of the online dating service2 and 7ii7 the mobile application of the online dating service4 7b7 ,fraud ban notification 7#a7 ,in general ,an online dating service provider shall provide to a member of the online dating service a fraud ban notification if the member has received and responded to a message through the online dating service from a banned member of the online dating service4 7#b7 ,required contents ,a fraud ban notification under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,the username1 identification number1 or other profile identifier of the banned member1 as well as the most recent time when the member to whom the notification is being provided sent or received a message through the online dating service to or from the banned member4 7,b7 ,a statement that the banned member may have been using a false identity or attempting to defraud members4 7,c7 ,a statement that a member should not send money or personal financial information to another member4 7,d7 ,an online link to information regarding ways to avoid online fraud or being defrauded by a member of an online dating service4 7#c7 ,manner and timing 7,a7 ,manner ,a fraud ban notification under paragraph 7#a7 shall be-- 7i7 clear and conspicuous2 and 7ii7 provided by email1 text message1 or other appropriate means of communication consented to by the member4 7,b7 ,timing 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clauses 7ii7 and 7iii71 an online dating service provider shall provide a fraud ban notification under paragraph 7#a7 not later than #bd hours after the fraud ban is initiated against the banned member4 7ii7 ,delay based on judgment of provider ,if1 in the judgment of the online dating service provider1 the circumstances require a fraud ban notification under paragraph 7#a7 to be provided after the #bd-;hour period described in clause 7i71 the online dating service provider shall1 except as provided in clause 7iii71 provide the notification not later than #c days after the day on which the fraud ban is initiated against the banned member4 7iii7 ,delay upon request of law enforcement official ,if1 due to an ongoing investigation1 a law enforcement official requests an online dating service provider to delay providing a fraud ban notification under paragraph 7#a7 beyond the time when the notification is required to be provided under clause 7i7 or 7ii71 the online dating service provider-- 7,i7 may not provide the notification before the end of the period of delay 7including any extension of such period7 requested by the law enforcement official2 and 7,,ii7 shall provide the notification not later than #c days after the last day of the period of delay 7including any extension of such period7 requested by the law enforcement official4 7#d7 ,limitation of liability ,an online dating service provider is not liable to a person in a civil action based on any of the following3 7,a7 ,the means of communication used to provide a fraud ban notification to a member under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,the timing of a fraud ban notification provided to a member under paragraph 7#a74 7,c7 ,the disclosure of information in a fraud ban notification provided under paragraph 7#a71 including the following3 7i7 ,information that a member is a banned member or the subject of a fraud ban4 7ii7 ,the username1 identification number1 or other profile identifier of the banned member4 7iii7 ,the reason that the online dating service provider initiated the fraud ban of the banned member4 7#e7 ,no private right of action2 preservation of certain immunity ,this subsection does not create a private right of action or diminish or adversely affect protections for an online dating service provider under section #bcj of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bcj74 7c7 ,identity verification 7#a7 ,in general ,an online dating service provider shall1 before allowing an individual to register with the online dating service provider1 verify the identity provided by the individual to the online dating service provider4 7#b7 ,form of identification ,an online dating service provider shall-- 7,a7 require an individual seeking to register with the online dating service provider to submit to the provider an acceptable 7as determined by the provider7 government-issued identity document 7or a copy of such a document7 that includes the date of birth of the individual2 and 7,b7 use the document 7or copy7 submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 to verify the identity of the individual as required by paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,limitation on retention of information ,an online dating service provider may only retain an identity document 7or copy of such a document7 provided by an individual under paragraph 7#b71 and any other information relating to the verification of the identity of the individual under paragraph 7#a7 7other than whether the identity of the individual is or is not verified71 until the earlier of-- 7,a7 the date on which the provider verifies the identity of the individual2 or 7,b7 the date that is #ij days after the individual provides the identity document 7or copy7 under paragraph 7#b74 7d7 ,enforcement by ,federal ,trade ,commission 7#a7 ,unfair or deceptive acts or practices ,a violation of this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b77 regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices4 7#b7 ,powers of ,commission ,except as provided in paragraphs 7#c7 and 7#d71 the ,commission shall enforce this section in the same manner1 by the same means1 and with the same jurisdiction1 powers1 and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq47 were incorporated into and made a part of this section1 and any person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act4 7#c7 ,civil penalty amount ,the amount of a civil penalty under section #e7m7 of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #de7m77 for a violation of this section shall be not more than #a1jjj for each violation4 7#d7 ,additional limitation ,the ,commission may not bring a civil action under section #ai of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #eg;b7 with respect to a violation of this section4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,banned member ,the term banned member means a member of an online dating service whose account or profile on the online dating service is the subject of a fraud ban4 7#b7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,trade ,commission4 7#c7 ,fraud ban ,the term fraud ban means the termination or suspension of the account or profile of a member of an online dating service because1 in the judgment of the online dating service provider1 there is a significant risk the member will attempt to obtain money from another member through fraudulent means4 7#d7 ,member ,the term member means an individual who-- 7,a7 submits to an online dating service provider the information required by the provider to establish an account or profile on the online dating service2 and 7,b7 is allowed by the provider to establish such an account or profile4 7#e7 ,online dating service ,the term online dating service means a service that-- 7,a7 is provided through a website or a mobile application2 and 7,b7 offers members access to dating or romantic relationships with other members by arranging or facilitating the social introduction of members4 7#f7 ,online dating service provider ,the term online dating service provider means a person engaged in the business of offering an online dating service4 7f7 ,effective date ,this section shall take effect on the date that is #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4