A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Bots Research Act. It requires the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to set up a task force within 90 days of the bill being enacted. This task force will study how automated accounts impact social media, public discourse, and elections. The group must include experts from the Federal Government, academia, non-profit organizations, and industry who know about automation technology. Within one year of being set up, the task force must share the results and conclusions of its study with Congress and relevant Federal agencies in a report.
Yes
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires a task force to study automated accounts and report its findings and conclusions to Congress and relevant Federal agencies.
- Scored +3
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?
The bill establishes a task force through the Federal Trade Commission to study the impact of automated accounts on social media.
- Scored +2
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
The bill directs the task force to consider the protection of First Amendment and constitutional rights of social media users while studying bots.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(a) requires the task force to study how to most effectively combat the negative effects of automated accounts on social media, public discourse, and elections while protecting the First Amendment on the internet. This could benefit the public by helping figure out how to address harmful bot activity online.
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Section 3(b) directs the task force to consider the protection of First Amendment and other constitutional rights of social media users, as well as the need to improve cybersecurity to ensure the integrity of elections. This is a positive step for keeping elections secure and protecting people's constitutional rights.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(e) states that members of the task force will serve without pay and will not receive travel expenses. This could make it difficult or burdensome for certain experts to participate, especially those who rely on compensation or travel reimbursement to do their work.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires a task force to study automated accounts and report its findings and conclusions to Congress and relevant Federal agencies. Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — The bill directs the task force to consider the protection of First Amendment and constitutional rights of social media users while studying bots.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill establishes a task force through the Federal Trade Commission to study the impact of automated accounts on social media.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.