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.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 31, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The TERMS Act requires online service providers to increase transparency regarding how they enforce their policies and restrict user accounts. Companies must publicly disclose their acceptable use policies in clear language, explaining what conduct is prohibited, how violations are enforced, whether users can appeal decisions, and whether behavior outside their platforms can result in account restrictions. The bill also requires providers to give users written notice at least seven days before restricting their accounts, with limited exceptions for court orders or imminent safety risks, and allows users to request public disclosure of these notices. Additionally, online service providers must publish detailed annual reports on their policy enforcement, including the number of violations detected, how many users were restricted, appeal rates, and the sources of the alerts that prompted enforcement action. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general are authorized to enforce the law, and the FTC must issue guidance within 180 days of enactment to help companies comply with these requirements.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.