[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6273 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6273
To prohibit market or product-focused research on children and minors,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 21, 2025
Mrs. Miller-Meeks introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit market or product-focused research on children and minors,
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 ``Stop Profiling Youth and Kids Act''
or the ``SPY Kids Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who is
under the age of 13.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(3) Covered platform.--The term ``covered platform'' means
a platform that is a website, software, application, or
electronic service connected to the internet that--
(A) is publicly available for use by consumers;
(B) enables the creation of a username or user
identifier--
(i) that is searchable on the platform; and
(ii) that can be followed by or is
otherwise accessible to other users of the
platform;
(C) as the predominant purpose of the platform,
facilitates the creation and access to user-generated
content through text, images, video, audio, or any
other interactive medium;
(D) uses a design feature to promote user
engagement on the platform; and
(E) uses the personal information of the user to
advertise, market, or make content recommendations.
(4) Design feature.--The term ``design feature''--
(A) means any feature or component of a covered
platform that encourages or increases the frequency,
time spent, or activity of a minor on the covered
platform; and
(B) includes any of the following:
(i) Infinite scrolling or auto play.
(ii) Rewards or incentives based on the
frequency, time spent, or activity of a minor
on the covered platform.
(iii) Notifications and push alerts.
(iv) Badges or other visual award symbols
based on the frequency, time spent, or activity
of a minor on the covered platform.
(v) Appearance altering filters.
(5) Know; knows.--The term ``know'' or ``knows'' means to
have actual knowledge or to have acted in willful disregard.
(6) Parent.--The term ``parent'' means the legal guardian
of a minor.
(7) Personal information.--The term ``personal
information'' has the meaning given that term in section 1302
of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15
U.S.C. 6501).
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(9) Teen.--The term ``teen'' means an individual who is
over the age of 13 and under the age of 17.
(10) User.--The term ``user'' means, with respect to a
covered platform, an individual who registers an account or
creates a profile on the covered platform.
(11) Verifiable parental consent.--The term ``verifiable
parental consent'' has the meaning given that term in section
1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
(15 U.S.C. 6501)).
SEC. 3. MARKET RESEARCH.
(a) Prohibition of Research on Children.--A covered platform may
not, in the case of a user or visitor that the covered platform knows
is a child, conduct market or product-focused research on such child.
(b) Limitation on Research on Teens.--A covered platform may not,
in the case of a user or visitor that the online platform knows is a
teen, conduct market or product-focused research on such teen, unless
the covered platform obtains verifiable parental consent before
conducting such research on such teen.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to
limit the processing of personal information solely for measuring or
reporting advertising or content performance, reach, or frequency,
including through an independent measurement.
SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Enforcement by Commission.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
this Act shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under
section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or
practices.
(2) Powers of commission.--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 Act. Any person who violates this Act shall be subject to
the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities
provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
(b) Actions by States.--
(1) In general.--In any case in which the attorney general
of a State, or an official or agency of a State, has reason to
believe that an interest of the residents of such State has
been or is threatened or adversely affected by an act or
practice in violation of this Act, the State, as parens
patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of
the State in an appropriate State court or an appropriate
district court of the United States to--
(A) enjoin such act or practice;
(B) enforce compliance with this Act;
(C) obtain damages, restitution, or other
compensation on behalf of residents of the State; or
(D) obtain such other legal and equitable relief as
the court may consider to be appropriate.
(2) Notice.--Before filing an action under this subsection,
the attorney general, official, or agency of the State involved
shall provide to the Commission a written notice of such action
and a copy of the complaint for such action. If the attorney
general, official, or agency determines that it is not feasible
to provide the notice described in this paragraph before the
filing of the action, the attorney general, official, or agency
shall provide written notice of the action and a copy of the
complaint to the Commission immediately upon the filing of the
action.
(3) Authority of commission.--
(A) In general.--On receiving notice under
paragraph (2) of an action under this subsection, the
Commission shall have the right--
(i) to intervene in the action;
(ii) upon so intervening, to be heard on
all matters arising therein; and
(iii) to file petitions for appeal.
(B) Limitation on state action while federal action
is pending.--If the Commission or the Attorney General
of the United States has instituted a civil action for
violation of this Act (referred to in this subparagraph
as the ``Federal action''), no State attorney general,
official, or agency may bring an action under this
subsection during the pendency of the Federal action
against any defendant named in the complaint in the
Federal action for any violation of this Act alleged in
such complaint.
(4) Rule of construction.--For purposes of bringing a civil
action under this subsection, nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prevent an attorney general, official, or agency
of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney
general, official, or agency by the laws of such State to
conduct investigations, administer oaths and affirmations, or
compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of
documentary and other evidence.
SEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to--
(1) limit or impair the Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) or any rule or
regulation promulgated under such Act; or
(2) authorize any action in conflict with section 18(h) of
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(h)).
SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.
No State or political subdivision of a State may prescribe,
maintain, or enforce any law, rule, regulation, requirement, standard,
or other provision having the force and effect of law, if such law,
rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision relates to
the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act shall take
effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
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