A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 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
The Stealth Bot Prohibition Act aims to prohibit the use of stealth bots. It forbids deploying bots to access websites or digital platforms in ways that likely damage or burden their technical or commercial operations. Additionally, it prohibits intentionally misrepresenting a bot to appear as a human user when used with generative AI services. The Federal Trade Commission is empowered to take civil action and seek penalties for these violations. State officials are also granted the authority to bring civil actions on behalf of their residents.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides protection for website and digital platform operators against disruptive stealth bots.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects digital platforms and services from being burdened or damaged by undisclosed bots.
- Scored +3
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates disclosure of bot purposes which helps manage how data is scraped from digital platforms.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Digital Services: The bill prohibits the deployment of bots that are likely to damage, impair, or burden the technical or commercial operation of a website or internet service (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Increased Transparency in AI: The act prohibits intentionally misrepresenting or obscuring the nature of a bot to make it appear as a human user in connection with generative AI models or services (Section 2(a)(2)).
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State-Level Redress: State attorneys general or officials can bring civil actions to enjoin certain acts, enforce compliance, or obtain damages, restitution, or compensation for the residents of their state (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Penalties: Individuals or entities found in violation of the prohibition may face civil penalties of up to $53,000 per violation, which is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Legal Burdens for States: If the Federal Trade Commission or the U.S. Attorney General starts a federal action, a State attorney general or official is prohibited from bringing a state action against the same defendant for the same violation while that federal action is pending (Section 2(c)(3)(B)).
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides protection for website and digital platform operators against disruptive stealth bots.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects digital platforms and services from being burdened or damaged by undisclosed bots.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill empowers the FTC and State officials to enforce transparency requirements regarding automated agents. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill increases transparency by requiring bots to disclose their identity and purpose.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates disclosure of bot purposes which helps manage how data is scraped from digital platforms.
- 10/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Russ FulcherRepublican · Idaho
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Erin HouchinRepublican · Indiana