Summary#
The LISTOS Act of 2025 would require large online platforms to treat non-English content more fairly and transparently. It tells platforms to make their systems for finding, removing, or suppressing illegal or rule-breaking content reasonably consistent across the languages where the platform makes money. Platforms must publish an annual, machine-readable report about how they moderate content. The bill also requires that reporting tools and written rules be available in every language the platform offers. The Federal Trade Commission (the Commission) writes rules to carry out parts of the law, and the FTC and state attorneys general can enforce it. The Act sets up an Advisory Group on Language-Sensitive Technologies to give the FTC guidance.
Key details in the bill:
- Covered platforms are sites or apps with user-generated content and at least 10 million monthly active U.S. users for 3 or more of the past 12 months.
- Platforms must keep moderation processes reasonably consistent for any language in which they engage in monetization practices.
- Exceptions: end-to-end encrypted messaging services and languages used by fewer than 100,000 users in the U.S. for 9 or more of the past 12 months.
- Annual public, machine-readable reports must include data on moderation staff (locations, assigned regions, languages, and proficiency), training and support, automated detection systems and performance metrics, languages used for monetization and revenue share, the share of content reviewed in the original language versus translated, translation processes, takedown counts by language, and average response times by language.
- Platforms must make all user reporting tools and platform rules accessible in every language they offer.
- The FTC must start rulemaking for key sections within 120 days of enactment. Sections about consistent enforcement and reporting take effect 120 days after the FTC issues regulations. The requirement to post tools and policies in all languages takes effect 120 days after enactment.
What it means for you#
- If you use a large site or app that meets the size test, the site may be required to offer reporting tools and its rules in your language.
- Platforms would need to collect and publish more information about how they moderate content in different languages, including how quickly they respond and whether content is reviewed in the original language.
- The law focuses on platforms that make money in a language; small community languages used by very few U.S. users may be excluded.
- End-to-end encrypted messaging is not covered by the rule about consistent enforcement.
Expenses#
The bill authorizes appropriations for the Advisory Group but does not specify amounts. No publicly available information on overall costs, savings, or budget estimates is provided in the text.
Proponents' View#
The bill’s findings say that supporters believe platforms have under-invested in non-English moderation and automated detection. They argue that more investment and transparency across languages is needed to protect user safety, promote equal access to digital spaces, and reduce targeted fraud, harassment, and harmful content in non-English communities.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information about opponents' views appears in the bill text or metadata.