On September 8, United States Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley announced a comprehensive AI legislative framework in a critical bipartisan step as congressional efforts to govern the booming area of artificial intelligence gather traction.
The proposed framework includes several ground-breaking initiatives, including mandatory licensing for AI companies. This licensing requirement ensures that AI enterprises follow tight laws, with technical liability protections explicitly barred from defending these firms from legal punishment.
Senator Blumenthal praised the bipartisan initiative on X (previously Twitter), calling it a “significant step forward.” The framework is a comprehensive legal plan that aims to develop tangible and enforceable protections for AI, guiding the management of its advantages and risks.
Senator Hawley emphasized that these principles should serve as the framework for future congressional initiatives on artificial intelligence regulation. He intended to arrange hearings with industry leaders and experts to gain support for this ground-breaking legislation.
The plan to create a licensing system controlled by an independent regulatory agency lies at the heart of the framework. AI model creators would need to register with this authority, which would then assess licensing applications to guarantee compliance with legislation.
The framework also clarifies that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives internet companies legal protection for third-party material, does not apply to AI applications. This lawsuit is aimed to hold AI businesses accountable for the content and actions of their technology.
The proposed law emphasizes corporate transparency, consumer and child protection, and national security measures, indicating the senators’ commitment to tackle many aspects of AI’s influence on society.
Blumenthal and Hawley, co-chairs of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and Law, announced preparations for a forthcoming hearing with influential technology industry professionals. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chairman and president, will testify, as will William Dally, NVIDIA’s chief scientist and senior vice president of research, and Woodrow Hartzog, a Boston University School of Law professor.
This statement comes ahead of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s AI symposium, featuring executives from prominent AI businesses discussing the technology’s potential benefits and drawbacks. Notably, Senator Schumer published his AI framework in June, outlining basic principles but requiring more precise measures offered by Senators Hawley and Blumenthal.
