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HR 6377 112th Congress House

Mobile Device Privacy Act

Official title: To require disclosures to consumers regarding the capability of software to monitor mobile device usage, to require the express consent of the consumer prior to monitoring, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 14, 2012 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityComputer security and identity theft
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Computers and information technologyConsumer affairsFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Right of privacyTelephone and wireless communication
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 14, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Sep 12, 2012
Introduced in House
Sep 12, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Latest action September 14, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mobile Device Privacy Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate regulations requiring sellers or manufacturers of mobile devices and software, providers of mobile services, and operators of online services offering downloads of monitoring software for installation on a mobile device to disclose to consumers information about the installation and purpose of such software. Allows exemptions for uses consistent with the reasonable expectations of consumers.

Defines "monitoring software" as software with the capability to monitor mobile device usage or the location of the user and to transmit the information collected to another device or system, whether or not such capability is the primary function of the software or the purpose for which it is marketed.

Directs the FTC to promulgate regulations requiring: (1) the express consent of a consumer before monitoring software begins collecting and transmitting information and giving the consumer the opportunity to prohibit such collection and transmission at any time; (2) recipients of information transmitted from monitoring software to implement information security practices for the treatment and protection of the information; and (3) the filing with the FTC or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as appropriate, of a copy of an agreement under which a person receives the type of information regarding which disclosure is required by this Act.

Provides for enforcement by the FTC and FCC of regulations promulgated under this Act under the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Communications Act of 1934, respectively. Allows civil enforcement actions by states and by private persons injured by an act in violation of such regulations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6377: Mobile Device Privacy Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6377/
MLA
"H.R. 6377: Mobile Device Privacy Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6377/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6377, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6377/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6377: Mobile Device Privacy Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6377/)
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