In a decisive move, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has removed a highly debated provision from President Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'. This provision would have prohibited states from enforcing any laws or regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI) for a decade. The Senate showed overwhelming support for Blackburn's motion, with a 99-1 vote against the ban.
“For as long as I've been in Congress, I've worked...to fight back against Big Tech's exploitation by passing legislation to govern the virtual space,” said Senator Blackburn.
This development signifies a substantial defeat for key figures in Silicon Valley and certain White House officials who had been vocal supporters of the measure. Major tech companies such as Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc., along with influential venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz, had lobbied for the restriction. Prominent allies of Trump in Silicon Valley, including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, Anduril Industries Inc. founder Palmer Luckey, and Palantir Technologies Inc. co-founder Joe Lonsdale, were also in favor of the ban, Bloomberg reported.
The relationship between Palantir and the Trump administration is well-documented, as company co-founder Peter Thiel is a mentor and longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance. The initial proposal sparked considerable controversy, prompting Blackburn and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to propose a compromise that would reduce the duration of the ban to five years, with the intent of protecting children and artists, as reported by The Tennessean.
Senator Blackburn has a history of advocating for regulation of the online realm to combat exploitation by Big Tech. "For as long as I've been in Congress, I've worked alongside federal and state legislators, parents seeking to protect their kids online, and the creative community in Tennessee to fight back against Big Tech's exploitation by passing legislation to govern the virtual space," Blackburn stated.
A notable example of such legislation is the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act (ELVIS), which Tennessee passed in July of the previous year, becoming the first state to establish protections for artists against the misuse of AI.
Blackburn's statement clarified her stance on the need for federal legislation to preempt the necessity for state regulations, expressing concern that without such laws, the exploitation of children, creators, and conservatives by Big Tech would continue unchecked.
According to Bloomberg, there have been over 1,000 AI-related bills proposed at the state level, illustrating the urgency and complexity of the issue. Brad Carson, president of the AI safety advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation, emphasized the importance of federal action, stating, "The moratorium threatened to halt kids online safety laws, artist and creator protections, and a range of consumer safeguards and tech transparency measures, all without any federal replacement."
While the tech industry is anticipated to persist in its efforts to impose a ban on state AI legislation, the recent Senate vote clearly indicates a political resistance to such a moratorium.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina was the sole lawmaker in the Senate to support maintaining the AI provision. He recently announced his retirement from the Senate, adding another dimension to the unfolding legislative drama.
