PRIA Logo™
119-hr-10433119th CongressWALLET

SAFE Platforms Act

Sponsored By: Representative Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would "reduce online consumer fraud" by requiring covered platforms to verify advertisers, add easy fraud-reporting tools, and set fraud-resistant privacy defaults. It creates duties for platforms, directs the Federal Trade Commission to write implementing rules, and allows state and private lawsuits for harms.

Show full summary
  • Consumers: Platforms must add a conspicuous "Report Scam" button and a simplified report flow compatible with assistive tech. Platforms must acknowledge reports within 30 days and notify content creators of reports.
  • Platform operators: Within 180 days platforms must implement advertiser verification and a repeat-offender tracking system and keep advertiser records for 3 years. They must adopt privacy-by-default settings that limit discoverability and take measures to deter multi-account evasion.
  • Advertisers and high-risk categories: Platforms must collect verified business details before ad purchases and apply enhanced checks to high-risk categories like financial services, health products, education, housing, gambling, unregulated finance, and age-restricted consumables.
  • Enforcement and remedies: The FTC gets rulemaking and enforcement powers. States can sue on behalf of residents and individuals can seek damages, including up to treble damages for willful violations, with actions brought within 3 years of discovery.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Stronger default privacy and anti-fraud design

This bill would require covered platforms to use fraud-resistant default privacy settings. Defaults would hide account existence, posts, messages, location, and connections from unconnected users unless someone opts in. Platforms would have to stop designs that make scams easier, prevent fake profiles and fake likes, and detect networks or new accounts set up to evade suspensions. Platforms could not weaken privacy with a single switch or penalize users for keeping higher privacy unless technically necessary.

New ID checks for online advertisers

This bill would require covered platforms to verify advertisers before they buy ads, within 180 days of enactment. Platforms would collect and confirm legal name, physical address, phone and email, a tax or government ID, proof of business registration for businesses, and payment method. Platforms would do stronger checks for "high-risk" advertisers and re-check them periodically. Platforms would keep verification records at least three years after an advertiser's last ad and must show basic advertiser info (name, country, account age) to users and try to stop repeat offenders from returning under new accounts.

Which online services must comply

This bill would define a "covered platform" as a service that hosts third-party content and has at least 100,000 monthly active users or more than $25,000,000 in yearly revenue (the revenue test would adjust with CPI). It would list high-risk ad categories like financial services, health products, housing, gambling, crypto, education, and age-restricted goods. The bill would also say it does not force platforms to pre-check all content and would exclude services that mainly act as ISPs, email, or pure data storage, and content only transmitted but not stored on a platform.

Commission rules for ad clarity and access

This bill would require the Federal Trade Commission to write rules within 180 days on ad design and accessibility for covered platforms. The rules would set minimum font sizes, clear labeling, color-contrast standards, and disability-access requirements. The rules would also include design limits to stop deceptive or misleading ads. Platforms would need to follow the Commission's standards for advertising presentation.

New enforcement tools and private lawsuits

This bill would let the FTC treat covered-platform violations as unfair or deceptive acts and use its full enforcement powers. Any person harmed by a violation would be able to sue for injunctive relief and money for actual losses or the amount allowed under the FTC Act per violation, adjusted for inflation. Courts could triple damages for willful violations, and winning plaintiffs could get attorney fees. State attorneys general could sue for residents but must notify the FTC; states may be blocked from suing if a federal action is already pending against the same defendant.

Clear scam reports, deadlines, and safe harbor

This bill would make platforms add a visible "Report Scam" button and an easy, accessible report form within 180 days. Reports would allow contact info, a sworn good-faith statement, and facts; platforms must acknowledge receipt within 30 days and notify the content creator. Platforms would review reported content within 48 hours and take steps within 7 days, with limited extensions up to 30 days (longer only with the Commission). Platforms that follow annual policy reviews and these timelines could qualify for a legal safe harbor, but they may stop processing users who file three reports found to be false in 12 months after notice.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

NC • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

    GU • R

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation