TERMS Act
Sponsored By: Senator Ted Cruz
Introduced
Summary
Transparency and due process for online account restrictions. The TERMS Act would require online service providers to publish clear acceptable-use rules and give users advance written notice and appeal information before restricting accounts.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Advance notice before account restrictions
If enacted, platforms would have to give written notice before restricting an account, except to comply with a court order, federal law, or to prevent imminent death or serious harm. Notices must state the exact act, how it violated the policy, whether you can appeal, and the appeal process. A provider is treated as having given notice if it makes a good-faith effort to notify you not later than 7 days before restriction. These notice rules would take effect 180 days after enactment.
Annual public reports on enforcement
If enacted, platforms would publish a public enforcement report within one year and then annually. Reports must be human- and machine-readable and openly licensed. They must show counts by alert source, the number of restrictions (terminations, suspensions, limited access, warnings), and the number of appeals and reversals. Reports must also categorize actions by the exact policy provision violated and by the source of the alert.
Clear acceptable use rules for platforms
If enacted, online services would have to post an easy-to-find acceptable use policy within 180 days. The policy would list prohibited acts, explain how rules are enforced (including third parties), and say if appeals are allowed or not. It would say whether off-site acts can lead to restriction and require advance notice to users if the policy changes materially.
Defines which websites must follow rules
If enacted, the bill would define who counts as an "online service provider" and who is a "user." It would cover sites or apps that require a unique account, offer internet-based services, and operate across states or countries. The bill would define "restrict" as terminating, suspending, or limiting a user's account. These definitions would apply even to entities that are not for profit or that do not sell only to the general public.
Federal Trade Commission enforcement rules
If enacted, violations would be treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the FTC could enforce the bill. The FTC would also apply enforcement to nonprofit organizations and must issue compliance guidance within 180 days. The guidance would not by itself create private legal rights, and enforcement actions must allege specific violations of the bill.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ted Cruz
TX • R
Cosponsors
Marsha Blackburn
TN • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Katie Britt
AL • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Tom Cotton
AR • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Mike Crapo
ID • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Roger Marshall
KS • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
James Risch
ID • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Eric Schmitt
MO • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Mike Lee
UT • R
Sponsored 7/28/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in