United States of America: Introduced Honest Ads Act (HR 2599)

On 13 April 2023, the Honest Ads Act (HR 2599) was reintroduced in the US House of Representatives. The Act aims to prevent foreign interference in future US elections and improve the transparency of online political advertising. The Act would give the Federal Election Commission (FEC) the power to monitor and regulate political advertising online, similar to those already in place for television, radio and satellite platforms. Under the Act, digital platforms with at least 50 million monthly viewers would be required to maintain a public file of all elections-related communications purchased by an individual or group who spends more than USD 500 in advertising. The file would include information on the advertisement, including a digital copy, number of views, target audience, times and dates of publication, rates charged and contact information of the purchaser. Furthermore, the Act would require online platforms to ensure that foreign individuals and entities are not purchasing political advertisements to influence the American electorate.