APP Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (26 Oct 2020): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
The APP Act, introduced in the Senate, would require certain software from specified countries to provide users with a warning before download. This warning would identify the software's owner and their country of operation. Additionally, owners of this software would need to submit annual reports to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice about how they handle U.S. user data, including any data protection and content moderation practices.
The bill also states that owners of such software could not collect or store data from U.S. users if they comply with requests from specified foreign governments to disclose that data or censor users. Violations could result in civil penalties enforced by the FTC, and intentional violations could lead to criminal penalties. The bill's provisions regarding liability for third-party content would not apply to these foreign software owners.
This bill was introduced in the Senate during the 116th Congress and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Its current status is "Introduced," meaning it has not yet advanced further in the legislative process.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Adversarial Platform Prevention Act of 2020 or the APP Act This bill establishes requirements for owners and operators of certain software (e.g., TikTok) from specified countries who make their software available to consumers in the United States. Specifically, before making such software available for download, the software must provide users with a warning that includes the name of the owner and the owner's country of principal operation. Further, owners of such software must annually disclose to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice certain information about the consumer data of U.S. users, including any data protection measures in place and any internal content moderation practices. Such owners may not collect or store data from U.S. users if they comply with any requests from specified foreign governments to disclose consumer data about U.S. users or any requests from such governments to censor U.S. users. The protections from liability for third-party publishers of content are not applicable to owners of foreign software who are subject to the requirements of this bill. Such software owners in violation of these requirements are subject to civil penalties enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and may be subject to criminal penalties for intentional violations.
Timeline
26 Oct 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 4869 do?
- The APP Act, introduced in the Senate, would require certain software from specified countries to provide users with a warning before download. This warning would identify the software's owner and their country of operation. Additionally, owners of this software would need to submit annual reports to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice about how they handle U.S. user data, including any data protection and content moderation practices. The bill also states that owners of such software could not collect or store data from U.S. users if they comply with requests from specified foreign governments to disclose that data or censor users. Violations could result in civil penalties enforced by the FTC, and intentional violations could lead to criminal penalties. The bill's provisions regarding liability for third-party content would not apply to these foreign software owners. This bill was introduced in the Senate during the 116th Congress and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Its current status is "Introduced," meaning it has not yet advanced further in the legislative process.
- Has S. 4869 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4869. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4869?
- S. 4869 was sponsored by Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (R-FL), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4869?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (26 Oct 2020).
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