Real bill currently in Congress c/o HR/119/9915

Stealth Bot Prohibition Act

Policy area: Commerce ▲ 43 days since action Sponsor: Laurel M. Lee, FL-15, R → Congress.gov

Latest action (2026-07-23): Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

What should pass

“AI Consensus Solution”

Bot Disclosure and Consumer Protection Act of 2025

To prohibit the use of automated social media accounts (bots) that intentionally deceive users about their non-human identity, thereby protecting consumers from fraud, manipulation, and disinformation in online interactions.

Bipartisan rationale: Democrats: Protects consumers from hidden manipulation and disinformation online; requires transparency without prohibiting speech; uses FTC enforcement, a trusted agency. Republicans: Preserves free speech (no mandate to remove bots, only to label); exempts small businesses; includes a sunset to prevent permanent regulation; limited to commercial platforms with clear interstate nexus; no new agency or private right of action.

Funding: Civil penalties collected under this Act s Not specified; enforcement fun Sunset 5y Oversight: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Enforcement: Civil actions in federal district co

Vote-count path: ~255 House votes: 180 Democratic centrists + 75 Republican federalists (focus on limited government, sunset, and small business exemption); ~60 Senate votes: 48 Democrats + 12 Republicans from the commerce and oversight committees.

→ Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce Clause – covered platforms are engaged in interstate commerce) → First Amendment – the disclosure requirement is a factual, non-controversial commercial disclosure consistent with Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 471 U.S. 626 (1985) → Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause – clear definitions, notice-and-comment rulemaking, and proportional civil penalties

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