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Freeze on AI legislation at state level: 'Egregious overreach' by feds

Freeze on AI legislation at state level: 'Egregious overreach' by feds

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Freeze on AI legislation at state level: 'Egregious overreach' by feds

An author and national security expert is taking issue with the proposed moratorium on states' AI-related legislation buried in the massive reconciliation bill making its way through Congress.

If the GOP's "one big, beautiful bill" passes, it will likely ban states from passing any laws or regulations on artificial intelligence. As currently written, H.R.1 bans states from regulating AI for ten years – presumably to give the federal government time to win the AI battle with China. (See Sec. 43201 of the bill)

Col. Robert Maginnis (USA-Ret.) is author of the upcoming book "AI for Mankind's Future." He tells AFN that states have a stake in the development of AI because as the technology moves into businesses, it will have a massive effect on state and local economies.

Maginnis, Robert (FRC) Maginnis

"Tell me what part of national security you want to protect here that would infringe upon the states' right to regulate an artificial intelligence economy," he offers.

While Maginnis acknowledges that's not a clean line, he contends some issues could be the purview of the federal government and others that could fall to the states. "I want to protect kids. I want to protect workers. I want to protect intellectual property," he emphasizes. "But I recognize that there are some larger issues of national security."

The national security expert says the proposed 10-year moratorium is far too long. "This federal provision overrides nearly all state and local AI-related laws for an entire decade. That's like centuries because things change every day," he says.

The bottom line for Maginnis is that the ban on state regulation of AI goes way too far. "I think it's an egregious overreach," he concludes. "It's a threat to state protections for kids and workers."

According to Fox News, several states – both red and blue – have enacted innovative protections against AI dangers to children and workers. In May, the National Conference of State Legislators issued a statement opposing the provision, arguing it would "not only stifle innovation but potentially leave communities vulnerable in the face of rapidly advancing technologies."