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Filter Bubble Transparency Act
12/30/2022, 8:03 AM
Summary of Bill HR 5921
The main provisions of the bill include requiring online platforms to disclose information about how their content filtering algorithms work, including how they determine what content is shown to users and how they prioritize certain types of content over others. The bill also requires platforms to provide users with the option to view content that is not filtered or personalized based on their preferences.
Additionally, the Filter Bubble Transparency Act mandates that online platforms conduct regular audits of their content filtering algorithms to ensure that they are not promoting harmful or misleading content. The bill also requires platforms to provide users with the ability to opt out of personalized content filtering altogether. Overall, the Filter Bubble Transparency Act aims to increase transparency and accountability in online content filtering algorithms in order to promote a more diverse and balanced online environment.
Congressional Summary of HR 5921
Filter Bubble Transparency Act
This bill establishes requirements for large online platforms that use algorithms applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to user-specific data to determine the manner in which content is displayed to users. Specifically, if an online platform applies such techniques to user-specific data that is not expressly provided by the user, the platform must (1) notify users that the platform uses such data, and (2) make a version of the platform available that uses only user-specific data that has been expressly provided by the user and which enables users to switch between the two platforms.
These requirements do not apply to search engines operated by downstream providers with fewer than 1,000 employees and that have an agreement to access an index of web pages from an upstream provider. However, the bill requires such upstream providers to make their algorithm available to downstream providers as part of such an agreement.
