Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act

Summary#

This bill says that when information or communications are collected, processed, or disclosed for a commercial purpose, those actions "shall give rise to no claim or enforcement action" under Federal or State pen register, wiretapping, trap and trace, or eavesdropping laws. The text specifically names the California Invasion of Privacy Act as included. The bill also says any such claim or enforcement action already in progress on the date the bill becomes law "may not be maintained, adjudicated, or arbitrated" after that date. The bill defines "commercial purpose" to include business operations, marketing, receiving consumer input, facilitating sales, and similar state-defined commercial uses. It defines "digital commerce" to include online promotion, sale, delivery, or support of products or services using tools such as cookies, pixels, session replay, chatbots, tags, and analytics.

What it means for you#

According to the bill text:

  • For businesses and service providers: activities described as digital commerce and done for a commercial purpose would not give rise to claims under the listed pen register, wiretapping, trap and trace, or eavesdropping laws. Ongoing claims that fall under this rule could not continue after the bill takes effect.
  • For consumers and plaintiffs: the bill text would block filing or continuing claims and enforcement actions under the listed statutes for information collection, processing, or disclosure that the bill treats as commercial digital commerce.
  • For states and courts: the bill text bars maintaining, adjudicating, or arbitrating covered claims and enforcement actions after enactment.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on budgetary effects, costs, or savings is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing proponents' stated reasons or arguments.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing opponents' stated reasons or arguments.