Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act

Bill: 117-hr-989
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2021-02-11
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Congressional elections

Digital media

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Marketing and advertising

Political advertising

Public participation and lobbying

Television and film
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires an online platform that displays a qualified political advertisement to (1) display with the advertisement a visible notice that identifies the sponsor of the advertisement, and (2) ensure that the notice continues to display if a viewer of the advertisement shares it with others on the platform. <i>Online platform</i> refers to any public-facing website, web application, or digital application that sells qualified political advertisements and has a certain number of unique monthly U.S. visitors or users.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 989 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 2021 Mr. Golden introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require certain online platforms which display political advertisements to display with the advertisement a notice identifying the sponsor of the advertisement and to ensure that the notice will continue to be presented in the advertisement if a viewer of the advertisement shares the advertisement with others on that platform.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act . 2. Requiring online platforms to display notices identifying sponsors of political advertisements and to ensure notices continue to be present when advertisements are shared (a) Requirement Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30104 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) Ensuring display and sharing of sponsor identification in online political advertisements (1) Requirement An online platform displaying a qualified political advertisement shall— (A) display with the advertisement a visible notice identifying the sponsor of the advertisement (or, if it is not practical for the platform to display such a notice, a notice that the advertisement is sponsored by a person other than the platform); and (B) ensure that the notice will continue to be displayed if a viewer of the advertisement shares the advertisement with others on that platform. (2) Definitions (A) Online platform For purposes of this subsection, the term online platform means any public-facing website, web application, or digital application (including a social network, ad network, or search engine) which— (i) sells qualified political advertisements; and (ii) has 50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States visitors or users for a majority of months during the preceding 12 months. (B) Qualified political advertisement For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified political advertisement means any advertisement (including search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements, and sponsorships) that— (i) is made by or on behalf of a candidate; or (ii) communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including— (I) a candidate; (II) any election to Federal office; or (III) a national legislative issue of public importance. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to advertisements displayed on or after the 120-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.