Bill · S. 915· Senate(119-S-915)
TLDR Act
- Introduced
- 3/10/2025
- Last activity
- 3/10/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Cassidy
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Terms-of-service Labeling, Design, and Readability Act," or "TLDR Act," requires commercial websites and online services to provide specific disclosures. Covered entities must issue a short-form terms of service summary statement and a graphic data flow diagram on their websites. Additionally, the full terms of service must be displayed in an interactive data format. These requirements are to be established via rules issued by the Federal Trade Commission. The bill also outlines enforcement powers for both the Commission and State attorneys general.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this give people more control over their personal data?+8
The bill greatly enhances transparency regarding the collection and sharing of sensitive user data.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+7
The bill protects privacy by requiring explicit disclosure of sensitive data processing and sharing practices.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+7
The bill enhances consumer protection by requiring clear, accessible, and machine-readable terms of service summaries.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
The bill imposes new compliance and disclosure requirements on covered entities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Accessibility: The short-form summary statement must be accessible to individuals with disabilities and those with low levels of literacy (Section 2(c)(1)(A)).
-
Enhanced Transparency of Sensitive Data: Entities must disclose categories of sensitive information they process and whether that data is required for basic service or future features (Section 2(c)(3)(A-B)).
-
Clearer Legal Awareness: The summary must include a summary of user legal liabilities and any rights transferred to the entity, such as mandatory arbitration or class action waivers (Section 2(c)(3)(C)).
-
Easier Data Management: If a service provides user deletion options, the summary must include directions on how to delete sensitive information or stop its use (Section 2(c)(3)(E)).
-
Better Tracking of Security Issues: The summary must include a list of data breaches from the previous three years that were reported to consumers (Section 2(c)(3)(F)).
-
Consumer Empowerment via State Action: State attorneys general can bring civil actions on behalf of residents to enforce compliance or obtain damages and restitution (Section 2(f)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No new contractual obligations: The bill explicitly states that the requirement to include a summary statement does not create any new contractual obligation (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+7Increases Federal Power+4Increase States Rights+3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+8Increases Big Tech Regulation+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+6Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Business Owners-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+6
- 3/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico