The U.S. Senate on Sept. 24 passed a bipartisan online consumer protection bill offered by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) that now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
“Especially during a pandemic when people are at greater risk of scams and deception,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said, “I’m happy to get this legislation through the Senate and have President Trump sign it into law to keep Americans and their information safe.”
The US SAFE WEB Extension Act, H.R. 4779, which Rep. McMorris Rogers sponsored in October 2019 with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), will extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders (US SAFE WEB) Act of 2006. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure in December 2019.
The bill will reauthorize the US SAFE WEB Act through fiscal year 2027. The law permits the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take certain actions to protect consumers from cross-border fraud and deception occurring over the internet, according to the congressional record bill summary, and requires the FTC to report on its activities concerning cross-border, online fraud and provide any policy recommendations to address such fraud.
“Bad actors from around the world seek to target and exploit Americans online,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “In order to keep people in eastern Washington safe from those who wish to do them harm, we need to make sure the Federal Trade Commission has the resources they need to step in, address international threats online, and protect Americans’ sensitive or financial information.”