Bill Overview
Title: CAPTURE Act
Description: This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on cooperation between social media companies and law enforcement to address illegal content and activity online. The report must include legislative recommendations to improve cooperation, as well as recommendations to require social media companies to establish a single point of contact in every state for federal, state, and local law enforcement entities.
Sponsors: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals using social media platforms
Estimated Size: 230000000
- The CAPTURE Act affects individuals using social media platforms, as these platforms will need to enhance their cooperation with law enforcement.
- Law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels will be directly impacted as the bill calls for improved collaboration with social media companies.
- Social media companies will be significantly affected, as they will need to establish new protocols and contacts with law enforcement.
- Users of social media platforms may experience changes in how their data is managed and shared with law enforcement agencies.
- The general public could see indirect impacts, as the bill aims to address illegal online activities, potentially affecting online safety.
Reasoning
- The policy budget limits affect the degree to which the policy can directly impact individuals; at $25 million in the first year and $55 million over 10 years, substantial changes might be slow but can systematically start a process of cooperation that becomes standard without heavy costs involved.
- The target population is broad, approximately 230 million of those that actively use social media platforms, though the direct day-to-day impact might be minor initially, more significant changes come from potential legislative updates in the future.
- The policy directly affects law enforcement by offering better communication and potentially reducing bureaucratic obstacles.
- Social media companies are positioned to bear the implementation cost flexibility, often pushed by upcoming legislative demands hence, they will need to absorb this cost.
- While end-users might not see immediate changes, over time, improved legal handling of online threats could improve the perceived and actual safety of these platforms, enhancing overall well-being over the longer term.
Simulated Interviews
Social Media Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how it might affect digital marketing strategies, but if it reduces online toxicity, I'm all for it.
- It'd be good if this encourages the efficient handling of online threats without overstepping privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Police Officer (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can streamline our efforts when dealing with online crimes.
- It should bring more resources, but how effective will it be without further training or staffing expansion?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing law enforcement access with privacy concerns is crucial.
- Laws like this need rigorous oversight to ensure they don't lead to intrusive practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
CEO of Social Media Company (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adds more regulatory measures and might increase operational costs.
- If managed properly, could strengthen user trust and compliance efficiency in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this leads to safer spaces but worry about potential overreach into privacy.
- There needs to be a balance; rights must be preserved alongside security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cybersecurity Specialist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that improves safety online is beneficial, but it must be well executed.
- Transparency with users about what data is shared is essential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Influencer (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry more about my privacy and how such legislation might affect content.
- Clear guidelines and protection for creators would definitely help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Government Employee (Topeka, KS)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can improve communication systems overall and reduce crime.
- Costs might rise at first, but eventual coordination improvements should balance it out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Freelance Journalist (Denver, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's interesting but potentially worrying to see the balance of privacy vs. enforcement.
- Legislation needs to safeguard against misuse, which is tricky.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A safer internet backdrop for my kids’ future is always welcome.
- Important this doesn’t exploit private citizen’s data indiscriminately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Social media companies will bear most of the initial costs regarding the new requirements for single points of contact.
- The GAO's report will lay the groundwork for further legislative changes, which could modify costs in the long term.
- Social media users and their data interaction with law enforcement are central to public concerns about privacy and efficiency.
- The long-term savings are more challenging to quantify due to the variability in illegal content and law enforcement's evolving strategies.