Bipartisan House Bill Would Require AI Bots to Identify Themselves Online

-Editorial 

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would require automated internet crawlers, including artificial intelligence bots, to identify themselves and disclose their purpose when accessing websites, a proposal supporters say would increase transparency and help online publishers protect their content.

The Stealth Bot Prohibition Act, introduced by Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., and Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., would require AI-powered web crawlers and other automated bots to identify themselves rather than disguising their activity while collecting data from websites. Supporters say the measure is designed to address concerns over automated systems that scrape online content, consume website resources, and make it more difficult for publishers to distinguish legitimate users from automated traffic.

The proposal is backed by the News/Media Alliance, a trade association representing news publishers, which said the bill would establish a national transparency standard for automated web crawlers. The organization argues that many bots currently conceal their identities, limiting the ability of publishers and other website operators to monitor automated activity or determine how their content is being used.

News/Media Alliance President and CEO Danielle Coffey said the legislation would provide additional transparency and accountability by requiring bots to disclose their identity and purpose. The organization said existing technical tools alone have not been sufficient to address automated traffic that it believes negatively affects publishers and other online content providers.

Several media organizations also announced their support for the legislation, including News Corp, Hearst Magazines, Condé Nast and the Tampa Bay Times. Supporters contend that unidentified bots can scrape original journalism, increase server traffic and create additional costs for website operators. They also argue that greater transparency could help publishers better manage automated access to their websites.

According to the News/Media Alliance, researchers estimate that automated bots now account for a significant share of internet traffic, with some operating for malicious purposes such as content scraping, identity masking or overwhelming website servers. The organization also said some bots route their traffic through residential proxy networks to make automated activity appear similar to human browsing.

If enacted, the bill would require automated crawlers accessing websites to identify themselves and disclose the purpose of their activity, allowing publishers and other website operators to make more informed decisions about managing automated traffic. Supporters say the proposal is intended as a first step toward establishing a more transparent marketplace for digital content.

The legislation follows similar efforts at the state level. According to the News/Media Alliance, lawmakers in Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and Utah have introduced AI transparency measures, while the New York Legislature recently approved the New York Stealth Crawler Prohibition Act, which includes comparable disclosure requirements for automated web crawlers.

The Stealth Bot Prohibition Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives and will be considered through the congressional committee process.

See the News Media Alliance Resource Center link: https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/digital-programs-and-advocacy/stealth-bot-prohibition-act-resource-center/