Congressional Action

Technology companies will be in for a bumpy ride in the second Trump Administration.  President-elect Trump has promised to adopt policies that will accelerate the United States’ technological decoupling from China.  However, he will likely take a more hands-off approach to regulating artificial intelligence and reverse several Biden Administration policies related to AI and other emerging technologies.Continue Reading Tech Policy in a Second Trump Administration: AI Promotion and Further Decoupling from China

Following the decisive election on November 5, the process of selecting and vetting individuals to fill the second Trump administration’s key appointed positions is quickly shifting into high gear. For those tapped for consideration, the decision to enter the process may be one of the most significant decisions of their…

Continue Reading A Primer for Navigating the Presidential Appointee Vetting and Confirmation Process

Updated October 1, 2024.  Originally posted September 19, 2024.

Last month, far-reaching proposals to regulate sports betting were introduced in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Paul Tonko which mark “the first comprehensive legislation that would address the public health implications inherent in the widespread legalization of sports betting.”  The bills, called the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act, would establish a broad federal scheme imposed on State gambling authorities to limit sports betting advertising, address problem gambling, and focus on other “public safety” measures. 

The SAFE Bet Act would establish a general nationwide prohibition on sports betting with an exception for States that receive approval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to operate a sports betting program consistent with the requirements of the proposed legislation.  DOJ approval of a State’s application would be valid for three years and would be renewable.  To receive approval, a State would have to show that it meets minimum federal standards related to sports betting advertising, controls on customer deposits, general consumer-protection requirements, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by sports betting operators.  The following is a high-level summary of the key standards.

Advertising Limits.  The bills’ advertising standards include prohibitions on broadcast advertising between 8 AM and 10 PM (local time) and during live sports events.  Also, advertisements could not utilize common promotional mechanisms such as “bonus,” “no sweat,” or similar offers.  Advertisements also could not instruct the audience how to gamble or explain how wagers work.Continue Reading Bills to Regulate Sports Betting Introduced in Senate and House

Over the past few days, far-reaching proposals to regulate sports betting were introduced in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Paul Tonko which mark “the first comprehensive legislation that would address the public health implications inherent in the widespread legalization of sports…

Continue Reading Bills to Regulate Sports Betting Introduced in Senate and House

The Senate Judiciary Committee is once again scheduled to markup the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act (S.4713/H.R.9455) this Thursday, September 19.

The bipartisan, bicameral IDEA Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Senate Judiciary Intellectual Property (IP) Subcommittee Ranking…

Continue Reading Senate Judiciary Committee To Consider Inclusive Innovation Legislation

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) yesterday, July 23, initiated procedural steps that will likely lead to swift Senate passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (“KOSA”) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA 2.0”).  Both bills have been under consideration in the Senate and the House of Representatives for some time, which we have previously covered.  Schumer’s action will likely bring the two bills in a single package to the Senate Floor as soon as Thursday, June 25. The future of the legislation in the House, however, is less certain.

KOSA, led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would, in its current form (S.1409), require specified “covered platforms” to implement new safeguards, tools, and transparency for minors under 17 online.  These covered platforms:

  • Would have a duty of care to prevent and mitigate enumerated harms.
  • Must have default safeguards for known minors, including tools that: limit the ability of others to communicate with minors; limit features that increase, sustain, or extend use of the platform by the minor; and control personalization systems.
  • Must provide “readily-accessible and easy-to-use settings for parents” to help manage a minor’s use of a platform.
  • Must provide specified notices and obtain verifiable parental consent for children under 13 to register for the service.

KOSA also requires government agencies to conduct research on minors’ use of online services, directs the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to issue guidance for covered platforms on specific topics, and provides for the establishment of a Kids Online Safety Council.  The FTC and state attorneys general would have authority to enforce the law, which would take effect 18 months after it is enacted.

In a press conference yesterday, Blumenthal and Blackburn touted 70 bipartisan Senate cosponsors and called for quick Senate passage of the bill without further amendment.Continue Reading KOSA, COPPA 2.0 Likely to Pass U.S. Senate

On July 10, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (“SHIELD”) Act, which would criminalize the distribution of private sexually explicit or nude images online.  

Specifically, the legislation makes it unlawful to knowingly distribute a private intimate visual depiction of an individual…

Continue Reading U.S. Senate Passes SHIELD Act to Criminalize Distribution of Private Intimate Images Online

Nearly a year after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) launched the SAFE Innovation Framework for artificial intelligence (AI) with Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Todd Young (R-IN), the bipartisan group has released a 31-page “Roadmap” for AI policy.  The overarching theme of the Roadmap is “harnessing the full potential of AI while minimizing the risks of AI in the near and long term.”

In contrast to Europe’s approach to regulating AI, the Roadmap does not propose or even contemplate a comprehensive AI law.  Rather, it identifies key themes and areas of agreement and directs the relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction to legislate on key issues.  The Roadmap recommendations are informed by the nine AI Insight Forums that the bipartisan group convened over the last year.

  • Supporting U.S. Innovation in AI.  The Roadmap recommends least $32 billion in funding per year for non-defense AI innovation, and the authors call on the Appropriations Committee to “develop emergency appropriations language to fill the gap between current spending levels and the [National Security Commission on AI (NSCAI)]-recommended level,” suggesting the bipartisan group would like to see Congress increase funding for AI as soon as this year. The funding would cover a host of purposes, such as AI R&D, including AI chip design and manufacture; funding the outstanding CHIPS and Science Act accounts that relate to AI; and AI testing and evaluation at NIST.
    • This pillar also endorses the bipartisan Creating Resources for Every American to Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI) Act (S. 2714), which would broaden nonprofit and academic researchers’ access to AI development resources including computing power, datasets, testbeds, and training through a new National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource.  The Roadmap also supports elements of the Future of AI Innovation Act (S. 4178) related to “grand challenge” funding programs, which aim to accelerate AI development through prize competitions and federal investment initiatives.
    • The bipartisan group recommends including funds for the Department of Defense and DARPA to address national security threats and opportunities in the emergency funding measure.  
  • AI and the Workforce.  The Roadmap recommends committees of jurisdiction consider the impact of AI on U.S. workers and ensure that working Americans benefit from technological progress, including through training programs and by studying the impacts of AI on workers.  Importantly, the bipartisan group recommends legislation to “improve the U.S. immigration system for high-skilled STEM workers.”  The Roadmap does not address benefit programs for displaced workers.

Continue Reading Bipartisan Senate AI Roadmap Released

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senators Todd Young (R-IN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) recently introduced the Future of AI Innovation Act, a legislative package that addresses key bipartisan priorities to promote AI safety, standardization, and access.  The bill would also advance U.S. leadership…

Continue Reading New Bipartisan Senate Legislation Aims to Bolster U.S. AI Research and Deployment