New AI Bill Sparks Debate Over Copyright, Privacy and Fairness

Sen. Marsha Blackburn has drafted a new AI law that tackles several contentious topics, from how companies use copyrighted material in training models to the rise of fake celebrity videos. The proposal also pushes for ending Section 230, a 1996 rule that shields online platforms from liability when users post content. Tech firms have fought hard to keep this law, citing its importance for innovation in Silicon Valley. Blackburn’s draft includes child‑safety measures and a clause that says AI must not discriminate against people based on their political views. She announced the bill as a response to President Trump’s call for federal AI standards, though the president has criticized one key part of her plan. The law would declare that copying or processing copyrighted works without permission is not protected by fair use, a point that many creators argue should hold. Trump’s comments suggest he supports the tech industry’s view that paying for every source would make AI impossible.

The draft also adopts the No Fakes Act, giving people control over how their digital likenesses are used. This act has backing from entertainment unions, studios and major tech companies like Google and OpenAI. Another piece of the proposal is a Kids Online Safety Act, which would require platforms to design child‑friendly features carefully and limit how companies use minors’ data. Parents would gain tools to manage their children’s privacy settings. The bill calls for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to set standards for watermarking, detecting synthetic content, and tracking content origins. Federal agencies would have to report how AI affects jobs, while the Department of Energy would collect data on potential negative AI incidents. Finally, a National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource would provide computing power, data sets and infrastructure to students, researchers, nonprofits, small businesses and universities.

Actions