Progressive lawmakers prepare AI regulation push

Congressional progressives are outlining a comprehensive artificial intelligence and Big Tech regulation plan, aiming to find common ground with civil libertarian-minded lawmakers on the right. Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedoms from AI developments, focusing on data privacy and restricting AI surveillance.

Casar highlighted increasing data privacy protections and limiting AI use for surveillance as key aspects. He proposed denying the renewal of certain warrantless surveillance powers without reforms, a topic that has previously brought together progressives and hardline conservatives. Preventing government purchases of consumer data could also be a bipartisan focus, he argued: "We should push to go further than that and block the data broker loophole that allows for the government to work through corporations to get data from you."

Casar has been actively promoting his AI proposals, ranging from banning AI superintelligence to taxing the technology to fund a jobs program for those affected by job losses. While House Democrats remain in the minority, there is significant enthusiasm within the caucus to advance AI regulation in the next year if Democrats gain control of the chamber.

This has resulted in a range of initiatives, including a bipartisan draft bill from Reps. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., and Jim Obernolte, R-Calif., and a Democratic-led commission expected to release its own proposals soon.

Casar views the current opposition to AI data center construction at the local level as "tremors of a bigger political earthquake" coming. He believes that job losses resulting from AI advancements will lead to even more pushback from Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters against these technologies.