89R15960 SCR-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 2637
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social
media platforms; providing a civil penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 120, Business & Commerce
Code, is amended by adding Section 120.0521 to read as follows:
Sec. 120.0521. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED FOR POSTS BY BOTS. (a)
In this section, "bot account" means an account controlled by an
automated software program that is designed to impersonate or
replicate human activity online by posting content on a social
media platform.
(b) A social media platform shall publish the disclosure
described by Subsection (c) on any content posted on the platform
that is known to be posted by a bot account.
(c) A disclosure required by Subsection (b) must include:
(1) a notice that the content was posted by a bot
account; and
(2) a warning that content posted by a bot account may
contain misinformation.
(d) A social media platform that violates this section is
liable for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $7,500 for
each violation.
(e) The attorney general may investigate a complaint
alleging a violation of this section. If the attorney general
determines that a violation has occurred, the attorney general may
bring an action to recover the civil penalty described by
Subsection (d).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.