Countering Online Harms Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6937 To require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study on artificial intelligence, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 19, 2020 Mr. GUTHRIE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study on artificial intelligence, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Countering Online 4 Harms Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. ONLINE HARMS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 6 STUDY. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.— 8 (1) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 9 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6937.IH H6937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6937 IH Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission shall 1 conduct a study on how artificial intelligence may be 2 used to address the online harms described in para- 3 graph (2). 4 (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDY.—In con- 5 ducting the study, the Commission shall consider 6 whether and how artificial intelligence may be used 7 to identify, remove, or take any other appropriate 8 action necessary to address the following online 9 harms: 10 (A) Deceptive and fraudulent content in- 11 tended to scam or otherwise harm individuals, 12 including such practices directed at senior citi- 13 zens. 14 (B) Manipulated content intended to mis- 15 lead individuals, including deepfake videos and 16 fake individual reviews. 17 (C) Website or mobile application inter- 18 faces designed to intentionally mislead or ex- 19 ploit individuals. 20 (D) Illegal content online, including the 21 sale of illegal opioids, child sexual exploitation 22 and abuse, revenge pornography, harassment, 23 cyberstalking, hate crimes, and incitement of vi- 24 olence. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6937.IH H6937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6937 IH (E) Terrorist and violent extremists’ abuse 1 of digital platforms, including the use of such 2 platforms to promote themselves, share propa- 3 ganda, and glorify real-world acts of violence. 4 (F) Disinformation campaigns coordinated 5 by inauthentic accounts or individuals to influ- 6 ence United States elections. 7 (G) The sale of counterfeit products. 8 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 9 months after the completion of the study required pursu- 10 ant to subsection (a), the Chairman shall submit to the 11 Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 12 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 13 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that 14 contains— 15 (1) the results of the study conducted under 16 subsection (a); and 17 (2) based on such results, the following: 18 (A) Recommendations on how artificial in- 19 telligence may be used to address the online 20 harms described in subsection (a)(2). 21 (B) Recommendations on what reasonable 22 policies, practices, and procedures may be im- 23 plemented to utilize artificial intelligence to ad- 24 dress such online harms. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6937.IH H6937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6937 IH (C) Recommendations for legislation that 1 may advance the adoption and use of artificial 2 intelligence to address such online harms. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6937.IH H6937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS