Platform Accountability and Transparency Act

This legislation aims to foster independent research into the societal impact of large digital communication platforms by facilitating secure, privacy-protected access to their data. It defines "platforms" as entities with over 50 million monthly users that enable user-generated content and deliver ads, and "qualified researchers" as those affiliated with U.S. universities or non-profits, excluding law enforcement. The bill establishes a research program jointly administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) . The NSF is responsible for soliciting and reviewing research applications for scientific merit, while the FTC assesses privacy and cybersecurity risks, establishing robust safeguards for data access and storage. These safeguards may include encryption, anonymization, and secure data environments, ensuring personal information is protected and not reidentified or used for commercial purposes. Platforms are obligated to provide "qualified data and information" for approved research projects, which excludes direct messages, biometric, and precise geospatial data. They receive immunity from legal action for complying with data sharing requirements, provided they adhere to the Act's provisions. Conversely, qualified researchers face civil and criminal penalties for intentionally or negligently violating privacy and cybersecurity safeguards. Beyond specific research projects, the Act creates a broader safe harbor , protecting journalists and researchers who collect publicly available information from platforms, even if it violates terms of service. This protection applies when the collection uses covered digital investigation methods, aims to inform the public, and includes reasonable measures to protect individual privacy. However, this safe harbor explicitly does not extend to collecting data for training large language models. Furthermore, the FTC is granted significant rulemaking authority to mandate increased public transparency from platforms. This includes requiring disclosures about highly disseminated content, major public accounts, and detailed information on advertising, such as targeting parameters and reach. Platforms will also need to report on their recommender and ranking algorithms, content moderation practices, and provide data dictionaries to aid researchers, all while protecting trade secrets and user privacy.