[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1654 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1654
To require transportation network companies to provide customers notice
when a driver has a camera in their motor vehicle and provide customers
an opportunity to opt out of riding in motor vehicles with cameras, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 7, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require transportation network companies to provide customers notice
when a driver has a camera in their motor vehicle and provide customers
an opportunity to opt out of riding in motor vehicles with cameras, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe and Private Rides Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES PERTAINING TO
CAMERAS IN MOTOR VEHICLES.
(a) Registering Requirement, Notice and Opportunity To Opt Out of
Riding in Cars With Cameras, and Restriction on Use of Passenger
Recording.--A transportation network company shall--
(1) for the purpose of enabling the notification described
in paragraph (2), require each driver affiliated with the
transportation network company to register with such company
any camera in the motor vehicle of the driver that records
video images of passengers;
(2) notify each passenger of each camera registered with
the transportation network company;
(3) develop and implement a process to address any
violation of the requirement under paragraph (1);
(4) provide any customer of the transportation network
company with--
(A) a clear and prominent notice on the application
of the transportation network company when a driver
affiliated with such company uses a motor vehicle that
has a camera in the motor vehicle that records video
images of passengers; and
(B) subject to the standards described in
subsection (b), an opportunity on such application to
opt out of riding in any motor vehicle that has a
camera in the motor vehicle that records video images
of passengers;
(5) not retain or transfer a recording of a passenger
except as necessary to report criminal activity, for insurance
purposes, or to determine compliance with the terms of service
of a transportation network company; and
(6) establish a mechanism by which a passenger of the
transportation network company may report instances of being--
(A) recorded without being notified; or
(B) connected with a driver with a camera in the
motor vehicle that records video images of passengers
after such passenger opted out pursuant to paragraph
(4)(B).
(b) Standards for the Opportunity To Opt Out.--For purposes of the
opportunity to opt out described in subsection (a)(2)(B), a
transportation network company shall--
(1) allow any customer to revoke consent to ride in a motor
vehicle that has a camera in such vehicle through an accessible
and easily navigable mechanism;
(2) provide an option to opt out that is clearly displayed
in the application settings or another easily accessible
location in that application;
(3) provide to a customer an opportunity to opt out of
riding in a motor vehicle that has a camera in such vehicle
that is independent from the customer agreeing to the terms of
service of the transportation network company; and
(4) only infer a customer's decision to opt out based on
the customer taking a direct action that a reasonable person
would constitute as an affirmative revocation of consent.
(c) Limitation of Liability.--No transportation network company
that has complied with subsections (a) and (b) shall be liable for the
actions of a driver affiliated with such company who otherwise violates
such subsections.
(d) Enforcement by the Commission.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive act or practices.--A violation of
this Act shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or
practice in violation of a rule promulgated under section
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of the commission.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall enforce this
Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the
same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all
applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated
into and made a part of this section.
(B) Privileges and immunities.--Any transportation
network company that violates this Act shall be subject
to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and
immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act
(15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(C) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall
be construed to limit the authority of the Commission
under any other provision of law.
(e) Effective Date.--The requirements established in this Act shall
take effect on the date that is 180 days after the enactment of this
Act.
(f) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(2) Motor vehicle.--The term ``motor vehicle'' means any
vehicle which is manufactured primarily for use on public
streets, roads, and highways (not including a vehicle operated
exclusively on a rail or rails) and which has at least 4
wheels.
(3) Transportation network company.--
(A) In general.--The term ``transportation network
company'' means any entity that uses a digital network
to connect a customer to a driver affiliated with the
company in order for the driver to provide
transportation services using a motor vehicle to the
customer.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``transportation network
company'' does not include--
(i) a shared-expense carpool or vanpool
arrangement that is not intended to generate a
profit for the driver; or
(ii) microtransit or other dedicated
transportation services provided exclusively on
behalf of a government entity, a nonprofit
organization, or a third-party commercial
enterprise.
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