Bill Summary
The "Internet Application Integrity and Disclosure Act" (also known as the "Internet Application I.D. Act") is a piece of legislation aimed at enhancing transparency regarding the ownership and data handling practices of internet websites and mobile applications associated with foreign adversaries.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Disclosure Requirements**: Starting one year after the enactment, any individual or entity that operates a website or mobile application partially or fully owned by a foreign adversary or that stores user data in such a country must inform users about the ownership and data storage practices. This includes clarifying whether:
- The service is owned by a foreign adversary country or entity.
- User data is maintained in a foreign adversary country.
- Foreign adversaries have access to user information.
2. **False Information Penalty**: It is illegal to knowingly provide false information regarding these disclosures.
3. **Definitions**: The Act defines key terms, including "covered service" (the websites or applications in question), "foreign adversary country," and "individual" (a person residing in the U.S.).
4. **Enforcement**: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing compliance with this law, categorizing violations as unfair or deceptive practices under existing laws.
Overall, the legislation aims to protect U.S. citizens by ensuring they are aware of potential risks associated with using digital platforms tied to foreign adversaries, promoting informed decision-making about their online activities.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Internet Application Integrity and Disclosure Act" could affect people:
1. **Informed Decision-Making**: Individuals who download or use mobile applications or websites that are owned or operated by foreign adversaries will be better informed about the potential risks to their personal information. The requirement for clear disclosure will allow users to make more informed decisions about whether to trust these services with their data, enhancing their ability to protect their privacy.
2. **Increased Compliance and Transparency**: Businesses that distribute mobile applications or operate websites will need to ensure compliance with the new disclosure requirements. This could lead to increased operational costs for these companies as they may need to implement new systems and processes to provide the required disclosures. This increased transparency may also lead to changes in how companies handle user data and their relationships with foreign partners, potentially benefiting consumers through improved data protection practices.
3. **Legal and Financial Consequences**: Entities that fail to comply with the disclosure requirements may face legal repercussions under the enforcement provisions of the Act. This could result in fines or other penalties imposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). For individuals, if they are misled by false information about the ownership or data storage practices of an application, they may have legal recourse, potentially leading to greater accountability for companies and enhanced consumer rights.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3614 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3614
To require any person that maintains an internet website or that sells
or distributes a mobile application that is owned, wholly or partially,
by a foreign adversary country, by a foreign adversary country-owned-
entity, or by a non-state-owned entity located in a foreign adversary
country, or that stores and maintains information collected from such
website or application in a foreign adversary country, to disclose that
fact to any individual who downloads or otherwise uses such website or
application.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 12, 2026
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. Lujan) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require any person that maintains an internet website or that sells
or distributes a mobile application that is owned, wholly or partially,
by a foreign adversary country, by a foreign adversary country-owned-
entity, or by a non-state-owned entity located in a foreign adversary
country, or that stores and maintains information collected from such
website or application in a foreign adversary country, to disclose that
fact to any individual who downloads or otherwise uses such website or
application.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Internet Application Integrity and
Disclosure Act'' or the ``Internet Application I.D. Act''.
SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO OWNERSHIP, STORAGE, AND
MAINTENANCE OF INFORMATION IN A FOREIGN ADVERSARY
COUNTRY.
(a) Disclosure Requirements.--Beginning 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, any person who owns, controls, or distributes
access to a covered service shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to
any individual who downloads or otherwise uses the covered service the
following:
(1) Whether the covered service is owned, wholly or
partially, by a foreign adversary country, by a foreign
adversary country-owned entity, or by a non-state-owned entity
located in a foreign adversary country.
(2) Whether information collected from the covered service
is stored and maintained in a foreign adversary country.
(3) Whether a foreign adversary country or a foreign
adversary country-owned entity has access to such information.
(b) False Information.--It shall be unlawful for any person to
knowingly disclose false information under this section.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered service defined.--The term ``covered service''
means an internet website or a mobile application that--
(A) is owned, wholly or partially, by a foreign
adversary country, by a foreign adversary country-owned
entity, or by a non-state-owned entity located in a
foreign adversary country; or
(B) stores and maintains information collected from
such website or application in a foreign adversary
country.
(2) Foreign adversary country.--The term ``foreign
adversary country'' means a country specified in section
4872(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code.
(3) Individual.--The term ``individual'' means a natural
person residing in the United States.
(4) Non-state-owned entity located in a foreign adversary
country.--The term ``non-state-owned entity located in a
foreign adversary country'' means an entity that is--
(A) controlled (as such term is defined in section
800.208 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, or a
successor regulation) by any governmental organization
of a foreign adversary country; or
(B) organized under the laws of a foreign adversary
country.
SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices.--A violation of this Act
is a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or
practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(b) Powers of the Federal Trade Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce
this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the
same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable
terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of
this Act.
(2) Privileges and immunities.--Any person that violates
this Act shall be subject to the penalties, and entitled to the
privileges and immunities, provided in the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(3) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade
Commission under any other provision of law.
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