Promoting Authenticity with Influencer Disclaimers Act
HB 9110, the Promoting Authenticity with Influencer Disclaimers Act, would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require clearer disclosure when a political committee pays for online communications created by a person and posted on an internet website, web application, or digital application. The bill requires that such communications state in a clear and conspicuous manner that they were paid for by the political committee, and it specifies how that disclosure must appear for audiovisual, text, graphic, and audio-only communications.
The bill also requires political committees to notify the paid communicator of the disclaimer obligation at the time of payment. It exempts content posted on a committee’s own website and certain posts by compensated employees on their own social media accounts, unless the employee’s principal duties are to post on those accounts. The Federal Election Commission would be directed to issue implementing regulations by January 1, 2027, and the new requirements would apply to communications made on or after that date regardless of whether regulations are finalized.
The bill would amend Section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act by adding a new special disclaimer rule for paid digital communications tied to political committees. In practical terms, it would expand federal campaign disclosure rules to cover influencer-style or sponsored online content paid for by committees, affecting political committees, paid content creators, and employees who post on social media. The Federal Election Commission would gain responsibility for writing regulations, and the law would take effect for communications beginning January 1, 2027.
Based on the available context, the bill appears to have a generally favorable or reform-oriented framing, emphasizing transparency and authenticity in political communications. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided material, so no formal opposition or support can be measured from legislative action. The title and structure suggest the sponsors view the measure as a disclosure and anti-deception safeguard for digital political messaging.
The main potential points of contention are the scope of the disclaimer requirement and how it applies to modern social media practices. Questions may arise over whether the rule burdens political speech, how clearly disclosures must be presented across different media formats, and whether the employee exception is broad enough or too narrow. Another likely issue is the carveout for committee-owned websites and the special rule for compensated employees, which could be debated by those concerned about enforcement, compliance costs, or loopholes in influencer-style political advertising.