APP Act
Latest action (26 Jan 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
The APP Act (S. 47) would require app stores and marketplaces, as well as owners of "covered foreign software," to display a detailed warning before consumers can download software owned or controlled by entities from designated "covered countries" (including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and others). The warning would have to identify the software's owners and controlling entities, disclose any risks to data privacy or free speech, and note whether user data has been shared with foreign governments. The bill also imposes data-protection rules on owners of such software, including bans on storing or transferring U.S. consumer data abroad, restrictions on sharing data with third parties, mandatory annual reports on data practices, and a requirement to provide users a way to appeal any censorship of their content.
The bill primarily affects companies that operate online software marketplaces (such as app stores) and the owners of foreign-linked software, particularly those connected to a list of designated countries. It would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, with civil penalties, potential bans on distributing noncompliant software in the U.S., and criminal fines for knowing violations. It would also remove certain legal protections under Section 230 for covered foreign software and would preempt state laws on similar subjects.
S. 47 was introduced in the Senate on January 26, 2021, by Senator Marco Rubio and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 117th 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
Adversarial Platform Prevention Act of 2021 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.
Common questions
- What does S. 47 do?
- The APP Act (S. 47) would require app stores and marketplaces, as well as owners of "covered foreign software," to display a detailed warning before consumers can download software owned or controlled by entities from designated "covered countries" (including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and others). The warning would have to identify the software's owners and controlling entities, disclose any risks to data privacy or free speech, and note whether user data has been shared with foreign governments. The bill also imposes data-protection rules on owners of such software, including bans on storing or transferring U.S. consumer data abroad, restrictions on sharing data with third parties, mandatory annual reports on data practices, and a requirement to provide users a way to appeal any censorship of their content. The bill primarily affects companies that operate online software marketplaces (such as app stores) and the owners of foreign-linked software, particularly those connected to a list of designated countries. It would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, with civil penalties, potential bans on distributing noncompliant software in the U.S., and criminal fines for knowing violations. It would also remove certain legal protections under Section 230 for covered foreign software and would preempt state laws on similar subjects. S. 47 was introduced in the Senate on January 26, 2021, by Senator Marco Rubio and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 117th Congress, meaning it did not become law.
- Has S. 47 become law?
- Not yet. As of 26 Jan 2021, S. 47 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 47?
- S. 47 was sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL, 2011-2025] (Republican-FL), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 47?
- Introduced (26 Jan 2021).
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