Gary Peters (D-MI)
A bill to require the Secretary of Defense assess and, as appropriate, implement open technical standards for digital content provenance, and for other purposes.
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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 requires the Secretary of Defense to create a roadmap by June 1, 2026, for the potential use of open technical standards for digital content provenance within the Department of Defense. The roadmap must identify standards for publicly released digital media and set strategic goals for securing and authenticating that content. It also requires the development of metrics for effectiveness and a way to coordinate with industry, academia, and research centers. Finally, the Secretary of Defense must brief congressional defense committees on the roadmap by July 1, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
Enhances the ability to authenticate DoD digital media, reducing the impact of misinformation and deepfakes.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Promotes verifiable history and origin of public-facing DoD digital media.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Potential for government procurement of new provenance technologies and solutions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Authentication of Government Media: The bill seeks to identify and assess standards to secure and authenticate public-facing digital content produced by the Department of Defense, which helps verify the origin and history of digital assets. This is found in Section 1(b)(1) and (2).
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Collaboration with Experts: The requirement to establish an engagement mechanism with academia, industry, and federally funded research and development centers ensures the government aligns with evolving best practices. This is found in Section 1(b)(7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Enhances the ability to authenticate DoD digital media, reducing the impact of misinformation and deepfakes.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Promotes verifiable history and origin of public-facing DoD digital media.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Potential for government procurement of new provenance technologies and solutions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Encourages coordination and alignment with academia and research centers for technical standards.
- 12/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Joni ErnstRepublican · Iowa