Internet Application I.D. Act

Summary#

This bill would require owners, operators, or distributors of certain internet websites and mobile apps to tell U.S. users if the service is tied to a foreign adversary country. Covered services are sites or apps that are owned (whole or in part) by a foreign adversary country, by an entity owned by such a country, or by an entity located in such a country — or that store information collected from the service in that country. Notices must clearly say (1) whether the service is owned by or linked to a foreign adversary country or related entity, (2) whether user information is stored in that country, and (3) whether that country or its entities have access to the information. The requirement starts one year after the bill becomes law. It would be illegal to knowingly give false information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would enforce the rule as an unfair or deceptive practice and could use its usual enforcement powers.

What it means for you#

• If you are a natural person living in the United States and you download or use a covered website or mobile app, the service must give you clear notice about ownership, where data is stored, and whether a foreign adversary has access to your information.
• If you own, control, or distribute access to a covered service, you must provide those disclosures to U.S. users, and you may face enforcement by the FTC if you fail to disclose or knowingly give false information.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs to the federal government, private companies, or users is provided in the bill text. The bill assigns enforcement and penalty authority to the FTC under its existing powers.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.