This bill requires federal inspectors general—the watchdog offices that oversee government agencies—to report to Congress about any conversations their departments have with big tech companies and online platforms. These reports, which inspectors general already submit twice a year, would need to include new details about what was discussed and why. Specifically, they'd have to disclose any communications about specific online content, how platforms moderate or remove posts, and anything related to how platforms work behind the scenes, like their algorithms and data systems. Essentially, the bill aims to shine a light on whether and how federal agencies are talking to tech companies about what content appears online, making these interactions transparent to Congress and the public.

Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act

Schmitt, Eric

Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications ActThis bill requires federal offices of inspectors general to include in their existing semiannual reports to Congress information about any communications between their department or agency and certain online platforms and services.&nbsp;Specifically, such reports must include details on the contents and circumstances of any communication or attempted communication with an internet platform, information content provider, or access software provider. Covered communications include those addressing specific online content, content moderation practices, and any other topic related to a platform's or service's data inputs, algorithms, modeling and simulation processes, analysis tools, or any related tool.&nbsp;