Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.2019 - Terms-of-service Labeling, Design, and Readability Act; TLDR Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R. 2019, also known as the TLDR Act, aims to require covered entities (businesses operating websites or online services for commercial purposes) to provide short-form terms of service summary statements. This includes graphic data flow diagrams and interactive data formats for their full terms of service. The goal is to make terms of service more accessible and understandable to users, especially those with low literacy or disabilities.

Expected Effects

If enacted, this bill would mandate that companies provide easily understandable summaries of their terms of service. This would empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their data and online activity. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be responsible for issuing rules and guidelines for compliance, and would have the authority to enforce the Act.

Potential Benefits

  • Increased transparency regarding data usage and user rights.
  • Easier understanding of complex legal terms for average users.
  • Enhanced control for users over their sensitive information.
  • Potential reduction in data breaches due to increased corporate accountability.
  • Improved accessibility for individuals with disabilities and low literacy.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Increased compliance costs for businesses, potentially impacting small businesses.
  • Possible ambiguity in the interpretation and enforcement of the summary requirements.
  • Potential for companies to oversimplify terms, leading to misunderstandings.
  • Risk of the summaries being used for marketing purposes rather than genuine transparency.
  • The 360-day deadline for implementation may be challenging for the FTC and covered entities.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill aligns with the spirit of the Constitution by promoting the general welfare (Preamble) through informed consent and transparency in online interactions. It does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights, such as those protected by the First Amendment (freedom of speech) or the Fourth Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches and seizures). The enforcement mechanism through the FTC is consistent with the delegation of regulatory authority by Congress.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).