In Senate Committee·Last action 161 days ago

Bill would let people sue social media platforms over harmful algorithms

Officially: Algorithm Accountability Act

This bill removes legal protections for large social media platforms when their recommendation algorithms contribute to bodily injury or death. Injured people could sue in federal court for compensatory and punitive damages. Platforms would need to use reasonable care in designing and operating their recommendation systems.

Where it stands

Sitting in Commerce

No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.

What this bill actually does

Large, for-profit social media platforms would face a legal duty of reasonable care in how they design, train, test, deploy, operate, and maintain their recommendation algorithms.
The duty applies when bodily injury or death is reasonably foreseeable and at least partly caused by the algorithm's design or performance.
Both harms to users and harms that users cause to others are covered, as long as the harm comes from the operation of a recommendation algorithm.

↓ Why your message matters here

This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.

The debate

What people are saying about this bill

✓Arguments in support

Promotes Fairness: Supporters argue that the bill helps ensure algorithms do not discriminate, promoting fairness in automated decision-making.
Increases Transparency: By requiring companies to disclose how their algorithms work, the bill increases transparency and trust in technology.
Protects Consumers: The bill aims to protect consumers from unfair treatment by ensuring companies address any biases in their systems.

✕Arguments against

Cost Concerns: Critics argue that the bill could impose significant costs on businesses, especially smaller companies, to comply with the new requirements.
Implementation Challenges: There are concerns about the feasibility of assessing complex algorithms for bias, which can be technically challenging.
Potential for Overregulation: Some believe the bill could lead to overregulation, stifling innovation and making it harder for companies to develop new technologies.

Where this bill is in the process

Legislative timeline

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Introduced

Introduced in Senate

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Senate Committee

Under Senate committee consideration

Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (11/18/2025)

NOV 18

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Senate Floor Vote

Voted on by Senate

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Passed Senate

Approved by Senate

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House Review

Sent to House for consideration

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Passed Both Chambers

Approved by both House and Senate

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Signed into Law

Signed by the President

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Bill would let people sue social media platforms over harmful algorithms

What people are saying about this bill

Legislative timeline

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