Washington, D.C. – New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is leading a coalition of 20 state attorneys general opposing a Congressional effort that would preempt state laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The coalition argues a federal ban on state AI legislation would jeopardize public safety and consumer protections already established across the country.
The bipartisan group, comprised of attorneys general from states including New York, California, and Massachusetts, warns that halting state-level AI regulation could dismantle critical safeguards against the rapidly evolving risks posed by AI technology. These risks include the proliferation of misinformation,deceptive practices targeting vulnerable populations,and potential harm to mental health. States have already begun enacting laws to address these concerns, prohibiting AI tools that spread voter misinformation, facilitate illegal robocalls, deceive consumers, compromise data privacy, and manipulate pricing.
“States are on the front lines of protecting our residents from the harms of unchecked AI,” said Attorney General Torrez in a statement. ”A federal prohibition on our ability to safeguard our communities would be a grave mistake.”
The coalition points to documented instances of AI being exploited for malicious purposes, such as convincing “grandparent scams” targeting seniors, inappropriate interactions with children, and the reinforcement of suicidal ideations in both young people and adults. They are urging congressional leaders to collaborate on developing comprehensive federal protections for AI, rather than dismantling existing state-level defenses.
The attorneys general emphasize that a collaborative approach is essential to address the complex challenges presented by AI while fostering innovation and responsible development. They fear that a preemptive federal ban would leave consumers and communities vulnerable to emerging AI-related threats.
