COVID–19 Misinformation and Disinformation Task Force Act of 2020
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (6 Aug 2020): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
What this bill does
This bill proposes establishing a federal task force to address misinformation and disinformation related to COVID-19. The task force would coordinate federal agencies' analysis of such information, develop integrated analyses while protecting privacy, and disseminate these findings to other government bodies. It would also create public awareness campaigns about information literacy and resilience during pandemics.
The task force would include representatives from various federal agencies, including those that regularly engage with racial or ethnic minority communities, rural communities, and other underserved populations. The bill specifies that the task force's activities must advance a compelling government interest, be narrowly tailored to minimize impacts on protected speech, and include procedures for documenting these considerations.
The bill was introduced in the Senate in August 2020 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not progressed beyond this initial stage. If enacted, the task force would have specific timelines for convening, providing congressional briefings, and publishing public reports, with a sunset provision tied to the end of the COVID-19 national emergency or one year after enactment, whichever is later.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
COVID-19 Misinformation and Disinformation Task Force Act of 2020
This bill establishes an interagency COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) misinformation and disinformation task force.
The task force shall include a representative from not less than one agency that regularly engages with racial or ethnic minority communities, rural communities, and other underserved populations.
The functions of the task force shall be
• coordinating the analysis of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation by agencies across the federal government,
• developing integrated analyses of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation in a manner that protects individual privacy and civil liberties,
• coordinating the dissemination to federal agencies and the White House Coronavirus Task Force of analyses developed by individual agencies and integrated analyses, and
• developing and disseminating information literacy and information resilience public awareness campaigns relating to pandemics.
Timeline
6 Aug 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 4499 do?
- This bill proposes establishing a federal task force to address misinformation and disinformation related to COVID-19. The task force would coordinate federal agencies' analysis of such information, develop integrated analyses while protecting privacy, and disseminate these findings to other government bodies. It would also create public awareness campaigns about information literacy and resilience during pandemics. The task force would include representatives from various federal agencies, including those that regularly engage with racial or ethnic minority communities, rural communities, and other underserved populations. The bill specifies that the task force's activities must advance a compelling government interest, be narrowly tailored to minimize impacts on protected speech, and include procedures for documenting these considerations. The bill was introduced in the Senate in August 2020 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not progressed beyond this initial stage. If enacted, the task force would have specific timelines for convening, providing congressional briefings, and publishing public reports, with a sunset provision tied to the end of the COVID-19 national emergency or one year after enactment, whichever is later.
- Has S. 4499 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4499. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4499?
- S. 4499 was sponsored by Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4499?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (6 Aug 2020).
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