Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a bipartisan group of 36 attorneys general in urging Congress not to pass legislation that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Reports have indicated that lawmakers may include a ban on state-level AI regulation in an upcoming military funding bill. This is not the first time such a proposal has surfaced; a similar measure was opposed by attorneys general earlier this year.
“It is outrageous that Congress would try to prevent states from taking necessary steps to keep our residents safe from the threats posed by unregulated and unmonitored artificial intelligence,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Our law enforcement partners and consumer protection advocates across New Jersey are increasingly alarmed that children, senior citizens, and others are being victimized and exploited by AI-enabled criminal-schemes or AI-fueled chatbots. I am proud to stand with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to oppose this deeply misguided congressional effort to enrich a small number of AI companies and executives at the expense of our state’s residents.”
The coalition recognizes that while AI offers benefits in fields like health care and public safety, it also presents risks. Recent reports have highlighted how AI can distort reality for vulnerable individuals, target seniors with scams, engage in inappropriate conversations with children, and even encourage self-harm.
Attorneys general argue that prohibiting state laws on AI could put residents at risk. States have enacted measures to address issues such as misinformation spread by AI tools, robocalls used for scams, deceptive marketing practices, data privacy concerns, and price manipulation through algorithms. They point out that these state laws help fill gaps left by the absence of comprehensive federal regulations on AI.
Instead of restricting state action, the attorneys general are calling on Congress to collaborate with them in developing effective federal protections against harmful uses of AI.
The letter sent to Congress was signed by attorneys general from American Samoa, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands Washington and Wisconsin.
