Senators Maria Cantwell and Edward Markey have introduced an amendment to remove the AI moratorium from a Republican budget reconciliation bill. The moratorium, known as the Blackburn-Cruz "compromise," has faced criticism for allegedly benefiting tech companies at the expense of consumer protections.
Senator Cantwell expressed concerns that the provision offers tech companies excessive protection: “The Blackburn-Cruz amendment does nothing to protect kids or consumers. It’s just another giveaway to tech companies." Senator Markey echoed this sentiment, stating, "Republicans are selling out our kids and local communities — all to line the pockets of Big Tech billionaires."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticized the moratorium for potentially undermining state protections against discriminatory AI outcomes in various sectors. The AFL-CIO also voiced opposition, highlighting that common law could not be enforced if it posed an undue burden on tech firms.
Child safety advocates, such as the Kids Code Coalition, argue that states need more autonomy to protect children online from AI-driven dangers. Meanwhile, organizations like Public Citizen believe the revised language still undermines state protections by allowing challenges to any state law deemed burdensome to AI systems.
Several other groups including Common Sense Media, Consumer Federation of America, and Electronic Frontier Foundation oppose the moratorium's limitations on state regulation capabilities. They emphasize that without comprehensive federal regulations in place, states must retain their ability to address emerging AI-related issues.
Critics warn that recent changes only superficially address concerns while leaving loopholes for tech companies. Advocates stress that Congress should enable oversight rather than granting amnesty to Big Tech regarding AI regulations.
