I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2860 
To direct the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to establish a 
task force for the purpose of studying the effects of automated accounts 
on social media, public discourse, and elections. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 21, 2019 
Mr. DESAULNIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission 
to establish a task force for the purpose of studying 
the effects of automated accounts on social media, public 
discourse, and elections. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bots Research Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the 
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Federal Trade Commission shall establish a task force to 
carry out the study and report required under section 2. 
(b) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The task force 
shall be comprised of the following: 
(1) At least 1 expert representing the Govern-
ment. 
(2) At least 1 expert representing academia. 
(3) At least 1 expert representing non-profit or-
ganizations. 
(4) At least 1 expert representing industry. 
(5) Any other expert that the Chairman deter-
mines appropriate. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chairman shall select 
task force members to serve by virtue of their expertise 
in automation technology. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chair-
man shall appoint the members of the task force. 
(e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the task force shall 
serve without pay and shall not receive travel expenses. 
(f) TASK FORCE SUPPORT.—The Chairman shall en-
sure appropriate staff and officials of the Federal Trade 
Commission are available to support any task force-related 
work. 
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SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—The task force established in this Act 
shall conduct a study of the impact of automated accounts 
on social media, public discourse, and elections. Such 
study shall include an assessment of— 
(1) what qualifies as a bot or automated ac-
count; 
(2) the extent to which automated accounts are 
used; 
(3) how the automated accounts are used; and 
(4) how to most effectively combat any use of 
automated accounts that negatively effects social 
media, public discourse, and elections while con-
tinuing to promote the protection of the First 
Amendment on the internet. 
(b) TASK FORCE CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out 
the requirements of this section, the task force shall con-
sider, at a minimum— 
(1) the promotion of technological innovation; 
(2) the protection of First Amendment and 
other constitutional rights of social media users; 
(3) the need to improve cybersecurity to ensure 
the integrity of elections; and 
(4) the importance of continuously reviewing 
relevant regulations to ensure that such regulations 
respond effectively to changes in technology. 
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the estab-
lishment of the task force, the task force shall develop and 
submit to Congress and relevant Federal agencies the re-
sults and conclusions of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
Æ 
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