Social Media DATA Act
Latest action (20 May 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
The Social Media DATA Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission to write regulations requiring large social media platforms—those with more than 100 million monthly active users that sell digital advertising—to maintain a searchable "ad library." This library would have to include detailed information on advertisers spending $500 or more per year, such as ad content, targeting methods, audience demographics, viewership and engagement data, spending amounts, and platform advertising policies. The FTC would also establish a working group of researchers, privacy advocates, and industry representatives to study and recommend broader standards for giving academic researchers access to platform data, including safeguards, storage limits, and privacy protections.
The bill primarily affects large social media companies, which would face new disclosure and compliance obligations, and academic researchers, who would gain structured access to advertising data for non-commercial study. The FTC would enforce the requirements as unfair or deceptive practices, and state attorneys general could also bring enforcement actions. The bill authorizes $2 million for the FTC in each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to carry out the law.
The bill was introduced in the House on May 20, 2021, by Rep. Lori Trahan and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action before the end of that Congress, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Social Media Disclosure And Transparency of Advertisements Act of 2021 or the Social Media DATA Act
This bill requires consumer-facing websites and mobile applications with a large number of users to maintain advertisement libraries and make them available to academic researchers and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Each library must include, among other things, a digital copy of the advertisement content, a description of the target audience, and the number of views generated from the advertisement. The FTC and state attorneys general are authorized to enforce these requirements, and the FTC must use information from the advertisement libraries to enforce other laws within its jurisdiction.
Additionally, the bill establishes a working group to address social media research access and make policy recommendations with respect to the information an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) should make available to academic researchers.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 3451 do?
- The Social Media DATA Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission to write regulations requiring large social media platforms—those with more than 100 million monthly active users that sell digital advertising—to maintain a searchable "ad library." This library would have to include detailed information on advertisers spending $500 or more per year, such as ad content, targeting methods, audience demographics, viewership and engagement data, spending amounts, and platform advertising policies. The FTC would also establish a working group of researchers, privacy advocates, and industry representatives to study and recommend broader standards for giving academic researchers access to platform data, including safeguards, storage limits, and privacy protections. The bill primarily affects large social media companies, which would face new disclosure and compliance obligations, and academic researchers, who would gain structured access to advertising data for non-commercial study. The FTC would enforce the requirements as unfair or deceptive practices, and state attorneys general could also bring enforcement actions. The bill authorizes $2 million for the FTC in each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to carry out the law. The bill was introduced in the House on May 20, 2021, by Rep. Lori Trahan and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action before the end of that Congress, meaning it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 3451 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 May 2021, H.R. 3451 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 3451?
- H.R. 3451 was sponsored by Rep. Lori Trahan [D-MA3] (Democrat-MA), with 23 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 3451?
- Introduced (20 May 2021).
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