COVID–19 Disinformation Research and Reporting Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8395 To conduct a study on the spread of COVID–19-related disinformation and misinformation on the internet and social media platforms, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 Ms. WEXTON (for herself, Mr. BEYER, Mr. CASTEN of Illinois, Mr. FOSTER, and Mr. RASKIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To conduct a study on the spread of COVID–19-related disinformation and misinformation on the internet and social media platforms, 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 ‘‘COVID–19 4 Disinformation Research and Reporting Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) The National Academies of Sciences, Engi- 8 neering, and Medicine and the National Science 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:44 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8395.IH H8395 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8395 IH Foundation have provided scientific, evidence-based 1 findings and foundational research, across all dis- 2 ciplines, that benefit the people of the United States. 3 (2) Accurate and reliable information is impera- 4 tive for health and safety during a national emer- 5 gency like the COVID–19 pandemic. 6 (3) Disinformation and misinformation have 7 spread alarmingly during the COVID–19 pandemic, 8 hindering the public response efforts of Federal, 9 State, local, and indigenous leaders. 10 (4) The internet and social media have made it 11 easier to spread fake medical information, such as 12 unproven treatments for COVID–19, or inaccurate 13 information that undermines scientific experts. 14 (5) COVID–19-related disinformation has been 15 weaponized by foreign adversaries, including Russia, 16 China, and Iran, through the use of fake social 17 media accounts and bot networks to amplify content. 18 (6) Understanding the financial incentives for 19 entities spreading and amplifying disinformation and 20 misinformation can help to combat its distribution. 21 SEC. 3. SCIENCE STUDY ON COVID–19-RELATED 22 DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION. 23 (a) STUDY.—Not later than 30 days after the date 24 of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:44 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8395.IH H8395 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8395 IH Science Foundation shall enter into an arrangement with 1 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 2 Medicine to conduct a study on the current understanding 3 of the spread of COVID–19-related disinformation and 4 misinformation on the internet and social media plat- 5 forms. The study shall address— 6 (1) the roles disinformation and misinformation 7 have played in the public response to COVID–19; 8 (2) the sources, both foreign and domestic, of 9 COVID–19-related disinformation and misinforma- 10 tion, and the mechanisms by which that 11 disinformation and misinformation influence the 12 public debate; 13 (3) the role social media plays in the dissemina- 14 tion and promotion of COVID–19-related 15 disinformation and misinformation content and the 16 role social media platforms play in the organization 17 of groups seeking to spread COVID–19-related 18 disinformation and misinformation; 19 (4) the potential financial returns for creators 20 or distributors of COVID–19-related disinformation 21 and misinformation and the role such financial in- 22 centives play in the propagation of COVID–19-re- 23 lated disinformation and misinformation; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:44 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8395.IH H8395 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8395 IH (5) potential strategies to mitigate the dissemi- 1 nation and negative impacts of COVID–19-related 2 disinformation and misinformation (and specifically 3 the dissemination of disinformation and misinforma- 4 tion on social media), including through improved 5 disclosures and addressing information literacy; and 6 (6) an analysis of— 7 (A) the limitations of the mitigation strate- 8 gies described in paragraph (5); and 9 (B) how the strategies can be implemented 10 without infringing on the constitutional rights 11 and civil liberties of the people of the United 12 States. 13 (b) REPORT.—In entering into an arrangement under 14 this section, the Director of the National Science Founda- 15 tion shall request that the National Academies of Sciences, 16 Engineering, and Medicine transmit to Congress a report 17 on the results of the study not later than 1 year after 18 the date of enactment of this Act. 19 (c) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be ap- 20 propriated, for the purposes of conducting the study under 21 this section, $1,000,000. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:44 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8395.IH H8395 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS