Article XII

This article exists because modern democracy increasingly takes place online, where automated accounts, artificial intelligence, coordinated influence campaigns, and other digital tools can make it difficult to distinguish genuine public opinion from manufactured activity. As technology advances, citizens need confidence that online political participation reflects real people and authentic civic engagement. 

This article requires transparency when political activity is automated, artificially generated, or materially coordinated, while prohibiting deceptive practices that create a false appearance of public support or consensus. At the same time, it protects anonymous speech, political organizing, and other forms of lawful expression, ensuring that transparency is strengthened without limiting free speech rights.

Section 1 — Authentic Civic Participation

Democratic self-government depends upon the authenticity and integrity of civic participation in digital communication systems.

The People have a right to know whether political or civic participation is human, automated, materially sponsored, materially coordinated, or artificially generated.

Section 2 — Protection Against Artificial Manipulation

Congress and the States shall enact and maintain laws preventing deceptive impersonation, undisclosed automation, fabricated civic participation, artificial amplification, and other materially deceptive practices that misrepresent the source, authenticity, or level of public support for political or civic activity.

Section 3 — Protection of Digital Expression

Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prohibit anonymous speech, voluntary association, independent advocacy, lawful automation that is clearly disclosed, political organizing, or other forms of protected expression.

Section 4 — Diversity and Independence

Congress and the States shall enact and maintain laws preventing undue concentration of ownership, control, or influence over digital communication systems that facilitate political or civic participation and preserving a diverse, independent, competitive, and transparent digital civic environment.

Section 5 — Future Technologies

Congress and the States shall enact and maintain laws necessary to apply the principles of this Article to future technologies and digital communication systems.