In Senate Committee·Last action 148 days ago

Rules for large platforms to share research data and disclose more publicly

Officially: Platform Accountability and Transparency Act

S.3292 sets up a researcher access program for very large online platforms and adds broad public transparency rules. It also creates legal protections for some public-interest data collection, with privacy safeguards and FTC enforcement.

Where it stands

Sitting in Commerce

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

What this bill actually does

Applies to platforms with at least 50 million unique monthly U.S. users for most of the last 12 months.
The National Science Foundation must set up the research approval program within 1 year after the bill becomes law, working with the FTC.
Some kinds of data are off-limits to researchers, including private messages, biometric data like fingerprints or retina scans, and precise location information.

↓ 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

Enables Evidence-Based Policymaking: Supporters argue that the bill provides the data needed for lawmakers to create effective regulations, similar to safety checks in other industries.
Boosts Independent Research: Researchers gain access to important data, allowing them to study social media's impact on society without compromising privacy.
Enhances Accountability and User Trust: By requiring platforms to disclose how they handle content and ads, the bill promotes responsible practices and user trust.

✕Arguments against

Trade Secret Risks: Some may worry that sharing data could expose trade secrets, although the bill includes safeguards to prevent this.
Compliance Costs: Platforms might face significant costs to develop the required data repositories and reporting systems.
Manipulation Susceptibility: There is a concern that increased transparency could lead to manipulation of platform systems by bad actors.

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. (12/1/2025)

DEC 1

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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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Rules for large platforms to share research data and disclose more publicly

What people are saying about this bill

Legislative timeline

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