Bill Overview
Title: SAD Act
Description: This bill prohibits advertisements that use deceptive or misleading statements related to the provision of abortion services. Abortion services include (1) surgical and non-surgical procedures to terminate a pregnancy, or (2) providing referrals for such procedures. The Federal Trade Commission must promulgate rules to implement the prohibition, and the bill provides for enforcement by the commission.
Sponsors: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who may seek abortion services
Estimated Size: 167000000
- The bill targets advertisements related to abortion services, both surgical and non-surgical.
- Deceptive or misleading information in these ads can significantly impact individuals seeking abortion services.
- Approximately 73 million abortions take place worldwide annually, as reported by the Guttmacher Institute.
- Individuals of reproductive age, especially women and those capable of becoming pregnant, are the primary group seeking abortion related services and thus affected by abortion-related disinformation in advertising.
- According to the world bank, around 3.9 billion people globally are women.
- Those who are pregnant or seeking information about pregnancy options will be most affected.
- People from countries with maximum access to digital media are more likely to be affected.
- The enforcement of this act targets deceptive advertisers globally.
Reasoning
- The targeted population is primarily people of reproductive age who may seek abortion services, especially women and pregnant individuals.
- The US has approximately 167 million women, who are the primary demographic affected by abortion-related disinformation.
- Deceptive advertising can significantly impact individuals’ decisions by providing false or misleading information about abortion services.
- The policy aims to reduce these impacts by enforcing truthful advertising, which should improve access to accurate abortion-related information.
- With a substantial budget and a large potential reach, the policy is likely aimed at media and online platforms where such ads may appear.
Simulated Interviews
Marketing Specialist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen misleading ads for abortion services which scared me a lot.
- I believe the SAD Act is necessary to prevent false information from impacting vulnerable people like me.
- Accurate information is crucial for making informed health decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Software Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The proliferation of misleading abortion ads is worrying and needs to be controlled.
- I support any legislation that ensures people receive truthful information about their health choices.
- This bill is a step forward in protecting women's health rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Health Policy Analyst (New York City, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill is an essential measure for regulating health information dissemination.
- Preventing misinformation is critical for public health safety.
- I expect this policy to set a precedent for other health service advertisements.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
University Student (Boise, ID)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's confusing to decide what's true with so many conflicting ads.
- Restrictive laws can be overwhelming, but this bill could help clarify my options.
- I hope this leads to more accurate information when I need it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see firsthand how misinformation affects patients' decisions.
- If the SAD Act is passed, it could greatly improve patient care and informed consent.
- I'm hopeful that this will lead to better health outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Public Health Educator (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Combating misleading ads is fundamental to educating the public.
- I think the SAD Act could support our efforts to provide reliable information.
- It has the potential to drastically reduce public health misinformation.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Digital Marketing Specialist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act highlights the importance of ethical advertising online.
- While it might restrict some advertising, it ensures public trust in digital content.
- I'm supportive of regulations that maintain ethical standards.
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 |
Journalist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Misleading ads I've encountered in my work and life are frustrating.
- Policies like the SAD Act are crucial for accountability and protection.
- I would appreciate seeing more legislation that aims to clarify health options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Social Worker (Denver, CO)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate abortion service information can change lives in the communities I work with.
- The SAD Act could be a powerful tool to ensure vulnerable populations receive correct health information.
- Having seen the confusion deceptive ads cause, this act is a positive move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Law Professor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The enforcement aspect of the SAD Act regarding deceptive advertising is pivotal.
- It establishes a clearer legal framework for false advertisement repercussions.
- The act is a commendable approach to protecting consumers' rights in health services.
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: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 5: $20000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $24000000)
Year 10: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $36000000)
Key Considerations
- The primary cost will stem from the FTC's need to implement and enforce new rules.
- Significant initial costs associated with setting up monitoring and compliance frameworks, which may decrease over time as processes optimize.
- The act aims at preventing misinformation which could have significant social benefits beyond direct financial impacts.