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H.R. 7117 115th Congress House

Bots Research Act

Official title: To direct the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to establish a task force for the purpose of studying the effects of automated accounts on social media,… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To direct the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to establish a task force for the purpose of studying the effects of automated accounts on social media, public discourse, and elections, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 6, 2018 Introduced by: Mark DeSaulnier Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Commerce Advanced technology and technological innovationsAdvisory bodiesComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technology
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Congressional oversightDigital mediaElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal Trade Commission (FTC)First Amendment rightsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigations
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 6, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Nov 6, 2018
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 6, 2018

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bots Research Act

This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish a task force to study the impact of automated accounts on social media, public discourse, and elections.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7117: Bots Research Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-7117/
MLA
"H.R. 7117: Bots Research Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-7117/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7117, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-7117/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7117: Bots Research Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-7117/)
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