Bill Text: IL HB4547 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Requires a covered website that implements a politically biased algorithm to file a report with the State Board of Elections that includes the candidate, political party, or question the algorithm was designed to promote or defeat and other information. Imposes a civil penalty on a covered website that fails to report. Allows the State Board of Elections to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4547 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB4547-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB4547 Introduced , by Rep. John Connor SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/1A-60 new
Amends the Election Code. Requires a covered website that implements a politically biased algorithm to file a report with the State Board of Elections that includes the candidate, political party, or question the algorithm was design to promote or defeat and other information. Imposes a civil penalty on a covered website that fails to report. Allows the State Board of Elections to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions.
LRB101 16833 SMS 66232 b
A BILL FOR
HB4547 LRB101 16833 SMS 66232 b
AN ACT concerning elections.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section
1A-60 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/1A-60 new)
Sec. 1A-60. Online platforms.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Covered website" means an online social network or search
engine that has 50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States
visitors or users for a majority of months during the
immediately preceding 12 months.
"Politically biased algorithm" means an algorithm that is
designed to promote the success or defeat of a candidate,
political party, or position on a question at an election by
causing a user of a covered website to view campaign material
or other content that:
(1) favors a particular candidate, political party, or
position on a question more frequently than campaign
material or content that favors the opposing candidate,
political party, or position on a question; or
(2) disfavors a particular candidate, political party,
or position on a question more frequently than campaign

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material or content that disfavors the opposing candidate,
political party, or position on a question.
(b)(1) A covered website that implements a politically
biased algorithm shall file a report with the State Board of
Elections within 7 days after implementing the algorithm.
(2) A covered website shall file an additional report on
every seventh day following the due date of the report required
under paragraph (1) covering the immediately preceding 7 days
if the covered website implemented a politically biased
algorithm during that period.
(c) Each report under this Section shall include:
(1) each candidate, political party, or question that
the politically biased algorithm was designed to promote or
defeat;
(2) the dates that the algorithm was in use;
(3) digital copies of the campaign material or other
content that the politically biased algorithm caused users
to view;
(4) the number of users exposed to campaign material or
other content generated by the politically biased
algorithm;
(5) any amount of money or other thing of value
received by the covered website from another person to
implement the politically biased algorithm; and
(6) any other information the State Board of Elections
requires by rule.

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(d)(1) The State Board of Elections may assess a civil
penalty on a covered website that fails to file a report
required under this Section in an amount not exceeding $50,000
for each violation.
(2) A civil penalty under paragraph (1) shall be:
(A) assessed in the manner specified in Section 9-23;
(B) deposited into the General Revenue Fund; and
(C) the joint and several liability of:
(i) the covered website; and
(ii) the person exercising direction or control
over the activities of the covered website.
(e) The State Board of Elections may adopt rules necessary
to implement the provisions of this Section.