The Stealth Bot Prohibition Act would ban the use of deceptive software programs, called stealth bots, that secretly access websites and online platforms without identifying themselves or disclosing their purpose. The law specifically targets bots that hide their identity or fail to clearly explain what they will do with the information they collect, particularly when used to train artificial intelligence systems. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the law with the power to bring civil lawsuits against violators, with penalties up to $53,000 per violation that adjust annually for inflation, and state attorneys general could also sue on behalf of their residents. The bill would take effect 180 days after enactment and gives violators a six-year window after an offense occurs for the government to file a lawsuit. This legislation aims to protect website operators and the public from unauthorized data collection and scraping used to develop AI systems.
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