(II) file petitions for appeal of a 
decision in the civil action. 
(C) LIMITATION ON STATE ACTION WHILE 
FEDERAL ACTION IS PENDING.—If the Commis-
sion has instituted a civil action for a violation 
of this section or a regulation promulgated 
under this section, no attorney general of a 
State may bring an action under subparagraph 
(A) during the pendency of that action against 
any defendant named in the complaint of the 
Commission for any violation of this section or 
a regulation promulgated under this section al-
leged in the complaint. 
(D) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For pur-
poses of bringing a civil action under this sub-
section, nothing in this subsection may be con-
strued to prevent the attorney general of a 
State from exercising the powers conferred on 
the attorney general by the laws of the State to 
conduct investigations, to administer oaths or 
affirmations, or to compel the attendance of 
witnesses or the production of documentary or 
other evidence. 
(E) ACTIONS
BY
OTHER
STATE
OFFI-
CIALS.—In addition to a civil action brought by 
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an attorney general under subparagraph (A), 
any other consumer protection officer of a State 
who is authorized by the State to do so may 
bring a civil action under subparagraph (A), 
subject to the same requirements and limita-
tions that apply under this paragraph to a civil 
action brought by an attorney general. 
(c) ONE NATIONAL STANDARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A State, or political subdivi-
sion thereof, may not maintain, enforce, prescribe, 
or continue in effect a provision of any law, rule, 
regulation, requirement, or standard having the 
force and effect of law of the State, or political sub-
division of the State, that requires an online dating 
service provider to notify, prohibits an online dating 
service provider from notifying, or otherwise affects 
the manner in which an online dating service pro-
vider is required or permitted to notify, a member 
of the online dating service that the member has re-
ceived a message from or sent a message to a mem-
ber whose account or profile on the online dating 
service is the subject of a fraud ban through the on-
line dating service. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—This subsection 
may not be construed to preempt any law of a State 
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or political subdivision of a State relating to con-
tracts or torts. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BANNED
MEMBER.—The term ‘‘banned 
member’’ means a member of an online dating serv-
ice whose account or profile on the online dating 
service is the subject of a fraud ban. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Trade Commission. 
(3) FRAUD BAN.—The term ‘‘fraud ban’’ means 
the termination or suspension of the account or pro-
file of a member of an online dating service because, 
in the judgment of the online dating service pro-
vider, there is a significant risk the member will at-
tempt to obtain cash or another form of currency 
from another member through fraudulent means. 
(4) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’ means an 
individual who— 
(A) submits to an online dating service 
provider the information required by the pro-
vider to establish an account or profile on the 
online dating service; and 
(B) is allowed by the provider to establish 
such an account or profile. 
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(5) ONLINE DATING SERVICE.—The term ‘‘on-
line dating service’’ means a service that— 
(A) is provided through a website or a mo-
bile application; and 
(B) offers members access to dating or ro-
mantic relationships with other members by ar-
ranging or facilitating the social introduction of 
members. 
(6) ONLINE DATING SERVICE PROVIDER.—The 
term ‘‘online dating service provider’’ means a per-
son engaged in the business of offering an online 
dating service. 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States, and each federally recognized Indian 
Tribe. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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