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HR 2356 113th Congress House

We Are Watching You Act of 2013

Official title: To provide for notification to consumers before a video service collects visual or auditory information from the viewing area and to provide consumers with cho… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To provide for notification to consumers before a video service collects visual or auditory information from the viewing area and to provide consumers with choices that do not involve the collection of such information, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 13, 2013 See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative law and regulatory proceduresConsumer affairsFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Internet and video services
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Internet, web applications, social mediaRight of privacy
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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
Jun 14, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Jun 13, 2013
Introduced in House
Jun 13, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Latest action June 14, 2013

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

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

We Are Watching You Act of 2013 - Prohibits an operator of a video service from collecting visual or auditory information from the vicinity of the device used to display the video programming stream to the consumer unless the operator: (1) displays, as part of the stream, a message that reads, "We are watching you"; and (2) describes to the consumer the types of information that will be collected and how such information will be used.

Requires the description of information collection to be provided: (1) as part of the terms and conditions to which the consumer must agree before using the video service; and (2) in the case of a video service accessed through a device sold or provided to the consumer by the operator, as part of the written instructions and other materials accompanying such device.

Directs operators to offer an alternative video service that does not involve the collection of such information but is otherwise identical. Requires any devices provided in connection with such alternative service to be incapable of collecting such information.

Allows operators to disclose such information only with the express consent of the consumer or as required by a court order in connection with a law enforcement investigation.

Requires violations of this Act to be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

 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. 2356: We Are Watching You Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2356/
MLA
"H.R. 2356: We Are Watching You Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2356/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2356, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2356/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2356: We Are Watching You Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2356/)
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