SCREEN Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1623
Last Updated: September 1, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

ID: M001211

Follow the money

The bill

SCREEN Act

HR. 1623, 119th Congress — read as touching Big Tech Platforms.

The sponsor

Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$123,810 raised

23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Federal Trade Commission" section, p. 908-910 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

December 10, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

✅

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another brilliant example of legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The SCREEN Act (Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act) claims to protect minors from online pornographic content by requiring interactive computer services to adopt and operate technology verification measures. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to appease moral crusaders and special interest groups while doing little to address the actual issue.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill defines "covered platforms" as entities that create, host, or make available content harmful to minors, with the objective of earning a profit. These platforms must adopt technology verification measures to ensure users are not minors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will oversee compliance.

Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory findings section, where Congress regurgitates decades-old statistics and Supreme Court decisions to justify their latest attempt at moral policing. It's like they're trying to convince us that this time, they'll finally get it right. Please.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are affected:

* Interactive computer services (e.g., social media platforms, online content providers) * The FTC, which will be tasked with enforcing this mess * Special interest groups, like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, who've been lobbying for stricter regulations * And, of course, the politicians themselves, who get to grandstand about protecting children while doing little to address the root causes of the issue

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a Band-Aid solution that will likely have unintended consequences:

* It may drive online content providers to adopt overly broad or ineffective age verification measures, potentially harming legitimate users and stifling free speech. * The FTC will be tasked with enforcing this law, which could lead to overreach and abuse of power. * Special interest groups will continue to lobby for stricter regulations, further eroding online freedoms. * And, as always, the politicians will pat themselves on the back for "protecting children" while ignoring more pressing issues.

Now, let's follow the money trail. Who's behind this bill? Ah, yes:

* The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) has been a vocal supporter of stricter online regulations. * NCOSE receives funding from various conservative and faith-based organizations, including the Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council. * These groups have donated generously to the campaigns of the bill's sponsors, including Rep. Miller (R-IL) and Rep. Van Drew (R-NJ).

It's a classic case of "follow the money" – or in this case, follow the moral outrage. The SCREEN Act is just another example of politicians using children as human shields to advance their own agendas and appease special interest groups. How predictable.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$123,810
16 donors
PACs
$13,010
Organizations
$1,500
Committees
$0
Individuals
$109,300
1
WINRED PAC
1 transaction
$13,010
1
ADAMS MEMORIALS
1 transaction
$1,000
2
VAHLING VINEYARDS
1 transaction
$500

No committee contributions found

1
BISHOP, JACK L MR
5 transactions
$30,300
2
KASPAR, SCOTT
1 transaction
$13,200
3
FORSYTHE, GERALD R MR
2 transactions
$13,200
4
THOMPSON, JOHN
2 transactions
$10,000
5
DAMAS, BETH A
1 transaction
$6,600
6
FORSYTHE, JEAN
2 transactions
$6,600
7
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
1 transaction
$5,800
8
HELMUTH, FRED
1 transaction
$5,000
9
THRIFT, PAUL
1 transaction
$5,000
10
RYDIN, MIKE
1 transaction
$3,700
11
OBERHELMAN, DIANE A
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SOVIE, DON
1 transaction
$3,300
13
COOLEY, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

ID: V000133

Top Contributors

27

1
WINRED
PACARLINGTON, VA
$6,781
Jan 26, 2024
2
WINRED
PACARLINGTON, VA
$868
Feb 16, 2024
3
ACE LISTENGER ENTERPRISES LLC
OrganizationLOUISVILLE, KY
$500
Sep 30, 2024
4
SPTWO LLC
OrganizationNORTH WILDWOOD, NJ
$500
Sep 30, 2024
5
TEC AEROSPACE, LLC
OrganizationCLAYTON, NJ
$500
Jun 30, 2024
6
FV REDEMPTION LLC
OrganizationCAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ
$500
Jun 27, 2024
7
CHARLES MARANDINO LLC
OrganizationMILMAY, NJ
$105
May 15, 2024
8
FORMAN, RICHARD P
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCHERRY HILL, NJ
$6,600
Nov 29, 2023
9
HOLLANDER, SCOTT
PULSE VASCULAR • PHYSICIAN
IndividualMULLICA HILL, NJ
$6,600
Feb 16, 2024
10
LAUDEMAN, KEITH MR
COLD SPRING FISH • FISH DEALER
IndividualCAPE MAY, NJ
$6,600
May 8, 2023

Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

ID: B001317

Top Contributors

22

1
COMMUNITY BANCSHARES OF MS PAC
OrganizationFOREST, MS
$1,000
Apr 18, 2023
2
NILKNOC LLC
OrganizationSTIGLER, OK
$300
Apr 8, 2024
3
GREEMAN, WALTER M MRS.
SELF EMPLOYED • RANCHER
IndividualTISHOMINGO, OK
$6,600
Oct 24, 2024
4
HINMAN, ROY H
FLAGLER HOSPITAL • FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR
IndividualST AUGUSTINE, FL
$6,600
Jan 23, 2024
5
LOMANGINO, ANTHONY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
6
LOMANGINO, LYNDA
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
7
ASBJORNSON, SCOTT
SELF EMPLOYED • PRIVATE INVESTOR
IndividualTULSA, OK
$6,600
Jun 5, 2023
8
JAQUISH, GAIL
JURIX INC • PSYCHOLOGIST
IndividualAUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Sep 26, 2023
9
KENNINGER, STEVEN
QMO LLC • INVESTOR
IndividualAUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
10
LOMANGINO, ANTHONY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$6,600
Jul 24, 2023

Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

ID: L000578

Top Contributors

25

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
3
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
OrganizationCASS LAKE, MN
$2,000
Nov 4, 2024
4
VANN BROTHERS
UNINCORPORATED • PARTNERSHIP
OrganizationWILLIAMS, CA
$1,500
Jun 27, 2023
5
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Oct 31, 2024
6
SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualLEMORE, CA
$6,600
May 6, 2024
7
NECHAY, JULIA
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualROSEVILLE, CA
$5,000
Oct 26, 2024
8
OSAGE NATION, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualPAWHUSKA, OK
$3,300
Oct 8, 2024
9
MCLAUGHLIN, RANDY
OLD DURHAM WOOD • ORCHARD TEMOVAL
IndividualDURHAM, CA
$3,300
Oct 13, 2024
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualDURANT, OK
$3,300
Oct 16, 2024

Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]

ID: S001189

Top Contributors

40

1
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
OrganizationBROOKS, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
2
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$2,000
Dec 27, 2023
3
FREEDOM TRAILERS LLC
OrganizationWILLACOOCHEE, GA
$2,000
Oct 15, 2023
4
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$2,000
Jun 27, 2024
5
PINE LAND PROPERTY LLC
OrganizationGRAY, GA
$2,000
May 31, 2024
6
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 15, 2024
7
BUZZ KILL HONEY FARM
OrganizationVALDOSTA, GA
$1,000
Oct 29, 2023
8
MONTY VEAZEY AND COMPANY
OrganizationTIFTON, GA
$1,000
Oct 15, 2023
9
ON POINT HEALTH LLC
OrganizationTIFTON, GA
$1,000
Oct 15, 2023
10
STARPORT LOGISTICS. LLC
OrganizationBONAIRE, GA
$1,000
May 31, 2024

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

ID: K000403

Top Contributors

20

1
ULRICH, DAVE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN • PROFESSOR
IndividualALPINE, UT
$10,000
Jun 5, 2024
2
BRENCHLEY, ROXANE
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualALPINE, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
3
BRENCHLEY, SHAWN
VIVINT • VP
IndividualALPINE, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
4
JOHNSON, HEATHER
SELF • HOMEMAKER
IndividualOGDEN, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
5
JOHNSON, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualOGDEN, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
6
KENNEDY, HUGH
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualYPSILANTI, MI
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
7
KENNEDY, JACOB
DEACONESS HOSPITAL • DOCTOR
IndividualEVANSVILLE, IN
$9,900
Mar 15, 2024
8
ULANOFF, DORY
ARCADIS • MARKETING
IndividualYPSILANTI, MI
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
9
ZUPANCICH, ANTHONY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI
$9,900
Mar 27, 2024
10
PLUMB, WALTER III
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$6,700
Jan 12, 2024

Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2]

ID: C001132

Top Contributors

22

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2024
2
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Sep 16, 2024
3
STALLINGS, KYLE MR.
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$10,000
Oct 14, 2024
4
HILL, VERNON
IndividualMOORESTOWN, NJ
$7,318
Jul 11, 2024
5
STALLINGS, KYLE MR.
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$6,600
Mar 1, 2023
6
MIRELES, OMAR
HSL PROPERTIES • REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
IndividualTUCSON, AZ
$6,600
Mar 29, 2023
7
ADAMS, MICHAEL A.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$6,600
Jun 30, 2024
8
ADAMS, MICHAEL A.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$6,600
Jun 30, 2024
9
HINMAN, ROY H. MR. II
ISLAND DOCTORS • FOUNDER/CEO
IndividualST. AUGUSTINE, FL
$6,600
Apr 4, 2023
10
KEMMERER, KAREN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualJACKSON, WY
$6,600
Apr 6, 2023

Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4]

ID: A000055

Top Contributors

23

1
CHALMERS, ADAMS, BACKER & KAUFMAN LLC
OrganizationJOHNS CREEK, GA
$2,900
Mar 7, 2023
2
IMPACT JOURNALS
OrganizationORCHARD PARK, NY
$1,200
Jun 4, 2023
3
SUIT, LLC
OrganizationATTALLA, AL
$500
Jun 10, 2023
4
ROBIN, CRAIG A.
EO SOLUTIONS • CEO
IndividualALBUQUERQUE, NM
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
5
HOKR, BRETT H.
EO SOLUTIONS • CTO
IndividualHUNTSVILLE, AL
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
6
LESSMANN, KURT M.
TRIDEUM • CTO
IndividualMADISON, AL
$6,600
Oct 2, 2023
7
KHALILI, KAVEH
EO SOLUTIONS • COO
IndividualBOULDER CITY, NV
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
8
BUFFALOE, STEPHANIE
HOME INSTEAD TUSCALOOSA • OWNER
IndividualTUSCALOOSA, AL
$6,600
Nov 15, 2023
9
COLLAZO, FRANCISCO JOSE
COLSA CORP • PRESIDENT/CEO
IndividualHUNTSVILLE, AL
$6,600
Oct 2, 2023
10
HUNT, RAY L.
HUNT CONSOLIDATED INC. • PRESIDENT
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Feb 21, 2024

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

ID: B001291

Top Contributors

23

1
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
OrganizationLIVINGSTON, TX
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023
2
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
OrganizationLIVINGSTON, TX
$3,300
Sep 27, 2024
3
TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION - YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO
OrganizationYSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO, TX
$2,500
Jun 13, 2023
4
WORTHAM, ROBERT JUDGE
JEFFERSON COUNTY • DISTRICT ATTORNEY
IndividualBEAUMONT, TX
$6,600
Jul 14, 2023
5
WORTHAM, ROBERT J. JUDGE
IndividualBEAUMONT, TX
$6,600
Jul 20, 2023
6
BARTLETT, BRUCE
BARTLETT GROUP • TREASURER
IndividualRANCHO SANTA FE, CA
$3,300
Oct 24, 2023
7
MCINGVALE, JAMES F.
GALLERY FURNITURE • FOUNDER/CEO
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Nov 3, 2023
8
MCINGVALE, LINDA
GALLERY FURNITURE/WESTSIDE TENNIS CLUB • BUSINESS OWNER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Nov 3, 2023
9
OZMEN, FATIH M. MRS.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSPARKS, NV
$3,300
Nov 17, 2023
10
ALLEN, ROGER
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualPASADENA, TX
$3,300
Jul 3, 2024

Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]

ID: R000612

Top Contributors

21

1
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
2
EVANS, JOHN B.
NGU RISK MANAGEMENT • PRESIDENT
IndividualHENDERSONVILLE, TN
$13,200
Feb 24, 2023
3
HUDSON, PHILLIP JR.
CUMBERLAND SUPPLY CO. INC. • SHAREHOLDER
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$13,200
May 20, 2023
4
VADEN, JAMES L.
SELF-EMPLOYED • ORTHODONTIST
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$13,200
May 8, 2023
5
BARNES, SAM T. DR.
SELF-EMPLOYED • PHYSICIAN
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$10,000
Feb 12, 2024
6
EVANS, JOHN B.
SELF-EMPLOYED • SALES
IndividualHENDERSONVILLE, TN
$10,000
Feb 27, 2024
7
BARNES, SAM T. DR.
SELF-EMPLOYED • PHYSICIAN
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$6,600
Dec 8, 2023
8
LIPMAN, ROBERT S.
LIPMAN BROTHERS • EXECUTIVE
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Nov 9, 2023
9
SMITH, BRAD
RUSSELL STREET VENTURES • CEO
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Oct 26, 2023
10
SMITH, LAUREN
LH SMITH CONSULTING • PRESIDENT
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Oct 26, 2023

Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

ID: O000175

Top Contributors

20

1
WINTERSTEEN, JAMES
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMILL VALLEY, CA
$13,200
Jun 27, 2024
2
FISHER, KENNETH L.
FISHER INVESTMENTS • EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
May 23, 2024
3
FISHER, SHERRILYN
PLANO 6500 LLC • MEMBER
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
May 23, 2024
4
RAMSEY, DAVE
RAMSEY • CEO
IndividualCOLLEGE GROVE, TN
$6,600
Jul 27, 2024
5
MOSING, GREG
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualBROUSSARD, LA
$6,600
Jul 24, 2024
6
SHOCKLEY, QIANG
QIANG SHOCKLEY • TECHNICIAN
IndividualIRVINE, CA
$6,600
Jun 8, 2023
7
BEAMAN, LEE MR.
BEAMAN VENTURES • INVESTOR
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Apr 13, 2023
8
GUO, MING
INTEL INC • MANAGER
IndividualCUPERTINO, CA
$6,600
Jun 2, 2023
9
KENNINGER, STEVEN
QMO LLC • INVESTOR
IndividualAUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Sep 25, 2023
10
JAQUISH, GAIL
JURIX, INC. • PSYCHOLOGIST
IndividualAUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Sep 26, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 46 connections

Total contributions: $46

Top Donors - Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC2 Orgs13 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped, 2 harmed.

  • −Big Tech Platformsconfidence 0.90

    Section 4(a) requires covered platforms (interactive computer services that create, host, or make available harmful-to-minors content for profit) to adopt technology verification measures to ensure users are not minors and prevent minors from accessing harmful content. This imposes compliance costs and operational burdens on platforms like social media and content sites that host pornographic material, which are typically big tech platforms.

  • +Cybersecurityconfidence 0.80

    Section 4(f) requires covered platforms to establish, implement, and maintain reasonable data security for technology verification measure data, protecting confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility against unauthorized access. This creates demand for cybersecurity solutions and services to comply with data security obligations.

  • −Telecommunicationsconfidence 0.70

    Section 4(b)(4) subjects IP addresses of all users of a covered platform to the technology verification measure unless the platform determines the user is not located within the United States. This could affect telecommunications carriers and ISPs that provide internet access, as they may be involved in data transmission related to verification processes, though the primary burden is on platforms.

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent — they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HARMS

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Federal Trade Commission

Strong
Vector: 65%
Pages: 908-910AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the SCREEN Act and the Project 2025 FTC policy focus on protecting minors online, assign enforcement responsibilities to the FTC, and advocate for measures (like age verification or parental consent) to shield children from harmful online content and practices."

Key themes:child online protectionFTC enforcement roleage verificationparental consentharmful content mitigation

— 875 — Federal Trade Commission Protecting Children Online. The FTC has long protected children in a variety of different contexts. Internet platforms profit from obtaining information from children without parents’ knowledge or consent—and social media’s effect on the well-being of American children is well-documented. Around 2012, American teens experienced a dramatic decline in wellness. Depression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide all increased sharply among U.S. adolescents between 2011 and 2019,16 with similar trends worldwide.17 The increase occurred at the same time that social media use moved from rare to ubiquitous among teens,18 making social media a prime suspect for the sudden rise in mental health issues among teens. In addition, excessive social media use is strongly linked to mental health issues among individuals. Several studies strongly support the notion that social media use is a cause, not just a correlation, of subjective well-being and poor mental health.19 Social media and other large platforms form millions of contracts every year with American children. And even though a minor can void most contracts into which he or she enters, most jurisdictions have laws that hold minors accountable for the benefits received under the contract. Thus, children can make enforceable contracts for which parents could end up bearing responsibility. Targeting chil- dren to create potentially harmful contracts or making parents responsible for such contractual relationships is an unfair trade practice. The FTC, therefore, has the authority, interest, and duty to protect children online from such contractual relationships. l The FTC should examine platforms’ advertising and contract- making with children as a deceptive or unfair trade practice, perhaps requiring written parental consent. Currently, the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)20 regulates the information internet firms can obtain from children. COPPA fails because it (1) only protects children under the age of 13, leaving older teenagers completely unprotected and (2) only prohibits platforms from collecting information from a child using “actual knowledge” rather than abiding by the “constructive knowledge” standard, which prohibits collecting information from a user reasonably assumed to be underage. The FTC has rulemaking authority under this statute but has done little with this authority, nor can it—given the statutory constraints. However, l The FTC can and should institute unfair trade practices proceedings against entities that enter into contracts with children without parental consent. Personal parental responsibility is, of course, key, but the law must respect, not undermine, lawful parental authority.

Federal Trade Commission

Moderate
Vector: 65%
Pages: 908-910AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the SCREEN Act and the Project 2025 FTC section aim to protect minors online and involve the FTC in enforcement, but the SCREEN Act focuses on age verification to block pornographic content while Project 2025 emphasizes contractual/advertising practices and parental consent under COPPA, resulting in partial thematic overlap."

Key themes:child online protectionFTC enforcementage verificationparental responsibilityharmful content

— 875 — Federal Trade Commission Protecting Children Online. The FTC has long protected children in a variety of different contexts. Internet platforms profit from obtaining information from children without parents’ knowledge or consent—and social media’s effect on the well-being of American children is well-documented. Around 2012, American teens experienced a dramatic decline in wellness. Depression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide all increased sharply among U.S. adolescents between 2011 and 2019,16 with similar trends worldwide.17 The increase occurred at the same time that social media use moved from rare to ubiquitous among teens,18 making social media a prime suspect for the sudden rise in mental health issues among teens. In addition, excessive social media use is strongly linked to mental health issues among individuals. Several studies strongly support the notion that social media use is a cause, not just a correlation, of subjective well-being and poor mental health.19 Social media and other large platforms form millions of contracts every year with American children. And even though a minor can void most contracts into which he or she enters, most jurisdictions have laws that hold minors accountable for the benefits received under the contract. Thus, children can make enforceable contracts for which parents could end up bearing responsibility. Targeting chil- dren to create potentially harmful contracts or making parents responsible for such contractual relationships is an unfair trade practice. The FTC, therefore, has the authority, interest, and duty to protect children online from such contractual relationships. l The FTC should examine platforms’ advertising and contract- making with children as a deceptive or unfair trade practice, perhaps requiring written parental consent. Currently, the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)20 regulates the information internet firms can obtain from children. COPPA fails because it (1) only protects children under the age of 13, leaving older teenagers completely unprotected and (2) only prohibits platforms from collecting information from a child using “actual knowledge” rather than abiding by the “constructive knowledge” standard, which prohibits collecting information from a user reasonably assumed to be underage. The FTC has rulemaking authority under this statute but has done little with this authority, nor can it—given the statutory constraints. However, l The FTC can and should institute unfair trade practices proceedings against entities that enter into contracts with children without parental consent. Personal parental responsibility is, of course, key, but the law must respect, not undermine, lawful parental authority. — 876 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Other conservatives are more skeptical concerning the effect of online expe- rience on the young, comparing the concern about social media to concern about video games, television, and bicycle safety. They point out, as does Cato fellow Jeffrey A. Singer, that the psychiatric profession has yet to designate “internet addiction” or “social media addiction” as a mental disorder in the authoritative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).21 These con- servatives also maintain that calling for regulation undermines conservatives’ calls for parental empowerment on education or vaccines as well as personal parenting responsibility. In addition, some of the methods used to regulate children’s internet access pose the risk of unintended harms. For instance, age verification regulations would inevitably increase the amount of data collection involved, increasing privacy con- cerns. Users would have to submit to platforms proof of their age, which raises the risks of data breach or illegitimate data usage by the platforms or bad actors. Limited-government conservatives would prefer the FTC play an educational role instead. That might include best practices or educational programs to empower parents online. Antitrust Enforcement. As is evidenced by a relentless focus on bringing Big Tech lawsuits, state attorneys general (AGs) are far more responsive to their con- stituents than is the FTC. Such a “boots on the ground” approach would benefit the FTC enormously. Practically, this would mean establishing a distinct role in the FTC Chairman’s office focused on state AG cooperation and inviting state AGs to Washington, D.C., to discuss enforcement policy in key sectors under the FTC’s jurisdiction: Big Tech, hospital mergers, supermarket mergers, and so forth. FTC regional offices are substantially more in touch with local issues. Over the past few decades, the reach and influence of regional offices has shrunk dramati- cally. The FTC should consider returning authority to these offices. Some conservatives however are less supportive of this idea. Conservative enthusiasm for the idea of adding regional FTC offices to the states is a break from the majority conservative position. Endorsing the federal government as a pre- mier job creator runs counter to decades of conservative opinion that holds that New Deal agencies and subsequent government bodies should never have been created in the first place, and that their red tape and interference is a dominant cause of economic inefficiency. Republicans used to seethe when Democrats tried to move federal offices into the states. In the early 1990s, House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich fumed about Senator Robert Byrd’s campaign to transfer certain national intelligence facilities to West Virginia, calling it a “pure abuse of power.” Some contributors to this chapter would remind conservatives that the unseen mechanics of redistribution—by which taxpayer money paid to state employees is taken from taxpayers nationwide—is a drag on the economy of the entire country. Many conservatives fear that it would be impossible to uproot or even prune back

Federal Communications Commission

Moderate
Vector: 63%
Pages: 882-884AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the SCREEN Act and the Project 2025 FCC section aim to protect minors from harmful online content and impose responsibilities on digital platforms, but the SCREEN Act focuses narrowly on age verification for pornographic material while Project 2025 emphasizes broader Section 230 reform, transparency, appeals processes, and antidiscrimination measures."

Key themes:minor protectionplatform regulationage verificationchild safetyonline content moderation

— 849 — Federal Communications Commission Big Tech, and it should look to Section 230 and the Consolidated Reporting Act as potential sources of authority.19 In acting, the FCC could require these platforms to provide greater specificity regarding their terms of service, and it could hold them accountable by prohibiting actions that are inconsistent with those plain and particular terms. Within this framework, Big Tech should be required to offer a transparent appeals process that allows for the challenging of pretextual takedowns or other actions that violate clear rules of the road. l Support legislation that scraps Section 230’s current approach. The FCC should work with Congress on more fundamental Section 230 reforms that go beyond interpreting its current terms. Congress should do so by ensuring that Internet companies no longer have carte blanche to censor protected speech while maintaining their Section 230 protections. As part of those reforms, the FCC should work with Congress to ensure that antidiscrimination provisions are applied to Big Tech—including “back-end” companies that provide hosting services and DDoS protection. Reforms that prohibit discrimination against core political viewpoints are one way to do this and would track the approach taken in a social media law passed in Texas, which was upheld on appeal in late 2022 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.20 In all of this, Congress can make certain points clear. It could focus legislation on dominant, general-use platforms rather than specialized ones. This could include excluding comment sections in online publications, specialized message boards, or communities within larger platforms that self-moderate. Similarly, Congress could legislate in a way that does not require any platform to host illegal content; child pornography; terrorist speech; and indecent, profane, or similar categories of speech that Congress has previously carved out. l Support efforts to empower consumers. The FCC and Congress should work together to formulate rules that empower consumers. Section 230 itself codifies “user control” as an express policy goal and encourages Internet platforms to provide tools that will “empower” users to engage in their own content moderation. As Congress takes up reforms, it should therefore be mindful of how we can return to Internet users the power to control their online experiences. One idea is to empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any. The FCC should also work with Congress to ensure stronger protections against young children accessing social media sites despite age restrictions that generally prohibit their use of these sites.

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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