Bill Overview
Title: TLDR Act
Description: This bill requires commercial websites (excluding small businesses) to display certain information, such as a short-form terms of service summary statement. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
Sponsors: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Target Audience
Population: Internet users who read terms of service agreements
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The TLDR Act targets commercial websites, which typically have a broad user base, indicating a high global impact on internet users.
- Large companies with extensive terms of service and global user bases must comply with the new requirements, influencing a diverse demographic.
- Many internet users skip or misunderstand terms of service agreements; this act aims to improve comprehension of these terms.
- The Act could affect all internet users globally, but the direct impact will be more observable in regions with substantial internet usage.
Reasoning
- The TLDR Act is designed to improve clarity and user comprehension of terms of service on commercial websites. This affects a vast number of users given the prevalence of online activities in the US.
- Given the Act targets commercial websites and not small businesses, its impact will be more significant on users interacting with larger platforms like social media and e-commerce sites.
- Most internet users do not read or understand terms of service agreements fully; this policy aims to improve digital literacy and awareness.
- The projected budget suggests a notable initial setup and ongoing costs, aligning with the need for compliance monitoring and public awareness campaigns.
- The budget constraints necessitate prioritization in enforcement and perhaps highlight larger websites initially.
- The American target estimate of 300 million aligns with US internet usage trends, considering regular interactions with commercial websites.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often struggle to understand the terms and conditions on many sites, and I like the idea of simplifying them.
- This might encourage me to pay more attention to the information I agree to when signing up.
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 | 8 | 7 |
Digital Marketer (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I usually glance over terms of service, but never in detail. If the important points are highlighted, it would certainly help.
- For my work, understanding terms better could be crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I never read through the long terms of service documents.
- The idea of a simple summary is appealing, as it could make understanding my rights easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Designer (Austin, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clearer terms should have been mandatory ages ago. This policy won't directly change my usage, but it's a relief to see it implemented.
- As someone who values transparency, this is a positive step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm a student, and digesting lengthy terms is often impossible given my workload.
- Having a summary would make me more aware of the implications of my subscriptions.
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 |
Accountant (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I avoid engaging with websites with complex, unclear terms.
- This Act might make me feel more comfortable making purchases online.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Content Creator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this Act is a step in the right direction for users who need to know their rights clearly.
- As someone relying on platforms for work, clear terms are important.
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 | 8 | 7 |
IT Support Specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a better summary could reduce the number of customer support queries about terms of service.
- This would make my job a little easier in some aspects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Insurance Agent (Houston, TX)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely bother with terms, but a simple outline might actually get my attention.
- I think this could foster trust in online services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A concise explanation of terms means more power in the hands of users, which is essential.
- I am all for anything that makes me more informed with less work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 3: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 5: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Costs associated with monitoring and compliance might vary significantly depending on the number and size of non-compliant companies.
- State enforcement variations could lead to unequal cost impacts across different regions.
- The potential litigation savings greatly depend on the effectiveness of improving comprehension through shorter terms of service.