Human Trafficking Online Research Act
Bill: S.3898 | Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Human Trafficking Online Research Act
This bill directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the impact of online social media platforms on the maintenance or expansion of human trafficking.

To authorize the National Science Foundation to support research on the 
impact of online social media platforms on the maintenance or expansion 
             of human trafficking, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Human Trafficking Online Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. NSF SUPPORT OF RESEARCH ON IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HUMAN 
              TRAFFICKING.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' 
        means an act or practice described in paragraph (11) or 
        paragraph (12) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims 
        Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
            (2) Social media platform.--The term ``social media 
        platform'' means a website or internet medium that--
                    (A) permits a person to become a registered user, 
                establish an account, or create a profile for the 
                purpose of allowing users to create, share, and view 
                user-generated content through such an account or 
                profile;
                    (B) enables 1 or more users to generate content 
                that can be viewed by other users of the medium; and
                    (C) primarily serves as a medium for users to 
                interact with content generated by other users of the 
                medium.
            (3) Commercial sex act.--The term ``commercial sex act'' 
        means any sex act on account of which anything of value, 
        including money, drugs, shelter, food, or clothing, is given to 
        or received by any person.
    (b) Support of Research.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, shall support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded 
research on the impact of online social media platforms on the 
maintenance or expansion of human trafficking, which may include--
            (1) fundamental research on digital forensic tools or other 
        technologies for verifying the authenticity of social media 
        platform users and their materials, that are utilized in the 
        promotion or operation of human trafficking networks;
            (2) fundamental research on privacy preserving technical 
        tools that may aid law enforcement's ability to identify and 
        prosecute individuals or entities promoting or involved in 
        human trafficking;
            (3) social and behavioral research related to social media 
        platform users who engage with those promoting or involved in 
        human trafficking;
            (4) research on the effectiveness of expanding public 
        understanding, awareness, or law enforcement efforts in 
        combating human trafficking through social media platforms; and
            (5) research awards coordinated with other Federal agencies 
        and programs, including the Information Integrity Research and 
        Development Interagency Working Group and the Privacy Research 
        and Development Interagency Working Group of the Networking and 
        Information Technology Research and Development Program, the 
        Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, the 
        Blue Campaign of the Department of Homeland Security, the 
        Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons of the 
        Department of State, and activities of the Department of 
        Transportation and the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Findings and recommendations.--Not later than 1 year 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall report to the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
        Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
        Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
        Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives--
                    (A) the Director's findings with respect to the 
                feasibility for research opportunities, including with 
                the private sector social media platform companies, to 
                improve the ability to combat human trafficking 
                operations; and
                    (B) any recommendations of the Director that could 
                facilitate and improve communication and coordination 
                among the private sector, the National Science 
                Foundation, and relevant Federal agencies to improve 
                the ability to combat human trafficking operations 
                through social media.
            (2) Results of research.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall report to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Subcommittee on 
        Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, 
        and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
        Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives on the results of the research supported under 
        this section.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect materials and actions associated with legal 
commercial sex acts.
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