WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Majority Leader Schumer and a bipartisan group of Senators released a “Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Policy in the United States Senate. The framework is meant to guide how congressional committees address AI in forthcoming bills. In response to the newly shared guidance, Demand Progress Director of Corporate Power Emily Peterson-Cassin issued the following statement:
“Legislators are elected to represent the interests of the public, not to be swayed by the allure of superficial innovations presented by Big Tech. The disappointing guidelines provided by recent federal efforts underscore the necessity for states to take the lead in innovating AI and Big Tech regulations. While the Senate has produced a mere 31 pages of vague recommendations, several states have proactively passed legislation to establish AI safeguards for their citizens. These states are also advancing laws that protect privacy and foster competition, demonstrating accountability that Congress has repeatedly failed to enforce against large corporations.
“Demand Progress staunchly advocates for robust measures to implement effective guardrails around AI technologies, particularly concerning antitrust laws, anti-surveillance, and privacy protections. Numerous viable proposals are already available that, if enacted, would mitigate these concerns and prevent future harms. We urge lawmakers to consider these solutions seriously and prioritize the well-being and rights of all Americans over the interests of Big Tech.”