The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that create, host, or make available pornographic content for profit to implement age verification technology that prevents minors from accessing such content. Covered platforms must use technology to verify users' age and block access to content defined as "harmful to minors" - material that appeals to prurient interest, depicts sexual acts in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious value for minors. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law, requiring platforms to conduct regular audits, maintain reasonable data security for age verification information, and make their verification processes public. Platforms must comply with these requirements within one year of the bill's enactment, with the goal of protecting minors from exposure to online pornography.
The TLDR Act requires major online platforms (excluding small businesses) to provide simplified, accessible summaries of their terms of service. These summaries must appear at the top of terms pages and include key details like categories of user data processed, legal liabilities (e.g., arbitration clauses), historical terms changes, recent data breaches, and estimated reading time. Platforms must also display interactive data flow diagrams showing how user data is shared with third parties and provide full terms in an interactive format. Enforcement will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission under existing FTC Act provisions, with states allowed to pursue cases affecting 1,000+ residents.
HR 7124 prohibits the use of specific mobile biometric apps (Mobile Fortify and Mobile Identify) outside U.S. ports of entry, restricting them solely for border identification. It requires Homeland Security to remove these apps from all non-Department devices, ban sharing with other agencies, and destroy U.S. citizens' captured biometric data (photos/fingerprints) within 12 hours of collection at ports of entry. The bill directly affects U.S. citizens whose biometric data is collected during border processing. Key mechanisms include mandatory app removal, remote deactivation of unauthorized installations, and strict data destruction timelines.
HR 6117, the Patient Device Data Access Act of 2025, requires medical device manufacturers to share patient-specific data recorded or transmitted by covered devices (like pacemakers or remote monitors) when a patient requests it. The bill mandates that manufacturers provide this data in understandable formats, publish device-specific data policies on their websites, and notify patients about how to access their information. It directly affects patients using covered devices and device manufacturers, while exempting data stored in inaccessible closed systems. The law focuses on enabling patient access to their own health data without requiring device redesigns or disclosing proprietary information.
The Artificial Intelligence Scam Prevention Act makes it illegal to use AI to impersonate people for fraudulent purposes, such as creating fake voices or images to scam consumers. It requires clear disclosure when AI is used in phone calls or text messages, so people know they're interacting with technology rather than a real person. The bill establishes an advisory group with FTC, FCC, and industry representatives to develop best practices for preventing these scams and mandates regular reports on AI-enabled fraud. The law aims to protect consumers from increasingly sophisticated scams, which cost over $1.4 billion in 2024 alone.
HR 3693 prohibits all federal agencies from creating or maintaining databases that store biometric data used for verifying U.S. citizens' identities. The bill specifically bans databases containing information like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris patterns collected through biometric identity verification systems. It applies directly to every federal agency, preventing them from using such technology for citizen identification purposes. This is a clear policy change restricting federal data collection practices related to biometric identification.
The ICE Out of Our Faces Act prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from using facial recognition, voice recognition, or other biometric surveillance technology for immigration enforcement. It directly affects ICE, CBP, and 287(g) deputized officers by banning their acquisition, possession, or use of such technology in the U.S. The bill requires immediate deletion of all existing biometric data collected by these officers within 30 days and makes evidence obtained in violation inadmissible in court. Violations could lead to lawsuits by affected individuals or state attorneys general, with possible damages, penalties, or injunctive relief.
This bill prohibits grocery stores from charging unreasonably high prices (defined as 120% or more of a product’s average price over the prior six months) unless they prove the increase stems from uncontrollable costs like supply chain issues. It bans using personal data - such as facial recognition or purchase history - to set different prices for individual shoppers and requires clear signage about facial recognition use at store entrances. Large grocery stores (over 10,000 sq ft) must replace electronic shelf labels with physical price tags. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these rules, allowing states and consumers to seek $3,000 per violation in court for price gouging or data misuse.
The DELETE Act creates a federal system allowing individuals to request deletion of their personal data from data brokers. It requires data brokers (entities collecting personal information without a direct customer relationship) to register with the FTC annually and implement a centralized deletion system. Individuals can submit one request to delete all their data across registered brokers within 31 days, with limited exceptions for research or legal compliance. Data brokers must pay an annual fee (capped at 1% of system costs) to maintain the system, and the FTC enforces the rules under existing privacy laws. The law preempts conflicting state privacy laws but allows states to offer stronger protections.
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a one-year study on neural data privacy and governance, including risks of behavioral manipulation and gaps in current laws. The study will analyze how neural data (from brain-monitoring devices) and related biometric data are collected, used, and transferred, with recommendations for future privacy protections. It directly affects the FTC (which must complete the study) and federal agencies (which will later receive guidance on using neural technology). The bill does not create new regulations but sets the stage for potential future policy changes based on the FTC's findings.
