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TLDR Act

USA119th CongressHR-2019| House 
| Updated: 3/10/2025
Lori Trahan

Lori Trahan

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the Terms-of-service Labeling, Design, and Readability Act (TLDR Act), aims to enhance transparency and user understanding of online service agreements. It directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish rules within 360 days requiring covered entities to publish a truthful and non-misleading short-form terms of service summary statement, a graphic data flow diagram, and their full terms of service in an interactive data format. A covered entity includes any commercial website or online service, but specifically excludes small business concerns. The short-form summary statement must be accessible to individuals with low literacy and disabilities, machine-readable, and placed prominently at the top of the permanent terms of service page. This summary must detail categories of sensitive information processed, what data is essential versus optional, and a summary of user legal liabilities or rights transferred, such as mandatory arbitration or content licensing. It also requires disclosure of historical versions, data breach lists from the past three years, and an estimate of the time needed to read the full terms of service. Additionally, the bill mandates a graphic data flow diagram, to be located immediately below the summary statement, illustrating how user sensitive information is shared with affiliates and third parties. The full terms of service must be presented in an interactive data format, allowing specific pieces of information to be identified and tagged using a standardized electronic format like XML. The FTC is also tasked with publishing guidelines for these graphic displays. Enforcement of the TLDR Act falls under the purview of both the FTC and State Attorneys General. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act, granting the FTC broad enforcement powers. State Attorneys General can also bring civil actions on behalf of at least 1,000 affected residents, seeking injunctions, damages, or other relief, with provisions for notifying and allowing intervention by the FTC. The bill defines "sensitive information" broadly to include health, biometric, financial, precise geolocation, and demographic data, among other categories.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6407
TLDR Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4568
TLDR Act
Mar 10, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-915
Introduced in Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6407
    TLDR Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4568
    TLDR Act


  • March 10, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-915
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 10, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 10, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Commerce

Related Bills

  • S 119-915: TLDR Act

TLDR Act

USA119th CongressHR-2019| House 
| Updated: 3/10/2025
This bill, titled the Terms-of-service Labeling, Design, and Readability Act (TLDR Act), aims to enhance transparency and user understanding of online service agreements. It directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish rules within 360 days requiring covered entities to publish a truthful and non-misleading short-form terms of service summary statement, a graphic data flow diagram, and their full terms of service in an interactive data format. A covered entity includes any commercial website or online service, but specifically excludes small business concerns. The short-form summary statement must be accessible to individuals with low literacy and disabilities, machine-readable, and placed prominently at the top of the permanent terms of service page. This summary must detail categories of sensitive information processed, what data is essential versus optional, and a summary of user legal liabilities or rights transferred, such as mandatory arbitration or content licensing. It also requires disclosure of historical versions, data breach lists from the past three years, and an estimate of the time needed to read the full terms of service. Additionally, the bill mandates a graphic data flow diagram, to be located immediately below the summary statement, illustrating how user sensitive information is shared with affiliates and third parties. The full terms of service must be presented in an interactive data format, allowing specific pieces of information to be identified and tagged using a standardized electronic format like XML. The FTC is also tasked with publishing guidelines for these graphic displays. Enforcement of the TLDR Act falls under the purview of both the FTC and State Attorneys General. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act, granting the FTC broad enforcement powers. State Attorneys General can also bring civil actions on behalf of at least 1,000 affected residents, seeking injunctions, damages, or other relief, with provisions for notifying and allowing intervention by the FTC. The bill defines "sensitive information" broadly to include health, biometric, financial, precise geolocation, and demographic data, among other categories.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6407
TLDR Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4568
TLDR Act
Mar 10, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-915
Introduced in Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6407
    TLDR Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4568
    TLDR Act


  • March 10, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-915
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 10, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 10, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Lori Trahan

Lori Trahan

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Energy and Commerce Committee

Commerce

Related Bills

  • S 119-915: TLDR Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted