H.R. 5956: Defending Against Foreign Propaganda Act

This bill, titled the Defending Against Foreign Propaganda Act, proposes new regulations regarding advertisements funded by foreign governments or individuals. Below is an outline of the main provisions of the bill:

Disclosure Requirements

The bill mandates that any advertisements disseminated to consumers that are funded by foreign governments or foreign persons must clearly indicate their source. This means:

• Advertisements must include a disclosure stating they were funded by a foreign entity if they are disseminated to consumers.
• The disclosure must be presented in a specific format, depending on the type of advertisement:
• Audio advertisements: The disclosure must be included as part of the audio.
• Printed advertisements: The disclosure must be included in written form.
• Video advertisements: Both audio and printed disclosures are required.
• For advertisements funded by foreign persons, the disclosure must also specify their country of citizenship or where their main place of business is located.

Enforcement

The bill designates the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to oversee and enforce compliance with these new disclosure requirements. This means:

• Any violation of the disclosure rules will be treated as unfair or deceptive acts as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Act.
• The FTC will have the same authority and powers to enforce these rules as it does under existing laws, including the ability to impose penalties for violations.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions to clarify key terms related to the provisions:

• Alien: Defined as specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Foreign Person: Defined as either an individual who is an alien or any corporation/organization with its main business location in a foreign country.

Purpose

The intent behind this legislation is to ensure transparency in advertising and to combat potential foreign propaganda that may influence American consumers without their knowledge. By requiring disclosures, the bill aims to empower consumers to make informed decisions regarding the information they receive from foreign sources.

Implementation Timeline

The bill is currently in the legislative process and has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for further consideration. If passed, specific timelines for compliance and enforcement actions would be established by the FTC.

Relevant Companies

None found.