Stealth Bot Prohibition Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal ban on stealth bots that hide their identity or pretend to be human when accessing websites or feeding generative AI, and it would let federal and state authorities sue to stop and penalize violations.
Show full summary
- Website owners and online services would get a clearer legal path to block or stop bots that damage or overload their systems. They could obtain injunctions, damages, or restitution through state or federal actions.
- People who deploy bots and companies that train or run generative AI would have to disclose a bot's identity and purpose at the time of access. The bill defines "stealth bot" and "generative AI" and sets the rules to take effect 180 days after enactment.
- The Federal Trade Commission could bring civil suits for injunctions and penalties up to $53,000 per violation, with annual CPI adjustments. State attorneys general may bring similar civil actions on behalf of residents and the FTC may intervene or appeal.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New ban on deceptive stealth bots
This bill would ban deploying or directing a "stealth bot" that accesses a website in a way likely to damage, impair, or burden its technical or commercial operation. It would also ban intentionally hiding that a bot is not a human when the bot is presented for use with a generative AI model or service. The bill defines "stealth bot," "bot," and "generative AI," including examples like crawlers, scrapers, and AI agents. These bans would take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.
Enforcement and penalties for stealth bots
This bill would let the Federal Trade Commission sue in federal court to get injunctions or civil penalties for violations. Each violation could carry a penalty up to $53,000, with that amount adjusted each January 1 by the CPI-U. States could sue on behalf of residents too, but they must notify the Commission and cannot sue defendants already named in a pending federal action. Civil suits under the section would have a six-year deadline from the violation date, and the bill says the section does not let the Commission issue regulations under this section.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/27/2026
Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]
ID • R
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov