Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5398
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2019-12-11
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Public-private cooperation

Smuggling and trafficking

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2020-01-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-12-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill requires (1) the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop recommendations and establish a working group to address wildlife trafficking online and on social media, and (2) the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to create a strategy for engaging with internet and social media companies to address wildlife trafficking on their platforms.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5398 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 11, 2019 Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Garamendi ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 to direct the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop recommendations to address wildlife trafficking on the internet and on social media, and to direct the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to develop a strategy to address wildlife trafficking on the internet and on social media, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be referred to as the Combating Online Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2019 . 2. Combating wildlife trafficking (a) Task Force The Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 ( 16 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 301 ( 16 U.S.C. 7631 )— (A) in subsection (d)— (i) in paragraph (4) by striking and at the end; (ii) in paragraph (5) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (6) recommendations for how the Task Force can expand cooperative exchanges with technology and social media companies to combat wildlife trafficking on the internet, including recommendations for— (A) identifying how wildlife is trafficked on internet sites and platforms; (B) methods for technology companies to assist Federal agencies and international partners to combat wildlife trafficking; and (C) methods to improve public-private relationships with technology and internet companies to combat wildlife trafficking. ; (B) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (C) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Technology and Social Media Working Group (1) Membership The Task Force shall form a Technology and Social Media Working Group, which shall be composed of such members of the Task Force as the Task Force determines appropriate and a representative of the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as designated by such Chairman. (2) Purpose Such Technology and Social Media Working Group shall work to address ongoing concerns with wildlife trafficking on the internet. (3) Meetings Such Technology and Social Media Working Group shall convene at least once each year. ; and (2) in section 402 ( 16 U.S.C. 7642 ), by adding at the end the following: (c) Internet and social media The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with other relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental partners, private sector companies, and international bodies, shall develop a strategy for engaging and partnering with internet and social media companies to combat the spread of wildlife trafficking on the internet. .