The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee has announced a hearing scheduled for next Thursday that will focus on privacy concerns arising from the growth of artificial intelligence. This meeting responds to the increasing pressure for Congress to establish clear rules on artificial intelligence and a comprehensive federal privacy law.
The hearing aims to examine how the expansion of AI has accelerated the need for a comprehensive federal privacy law. Currently, the United States lacks a federal law in this area, while several states and other countries have begun implementing new standards to regulate tech giants, many of which are based in the U.S.
A bipartisan data privacy bill, led by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), was scheduled for debate in the House last month. However, the meeting was canceled due to opposition from House Republican leaders, jeopardizing its approval in this session. Nonetheless, it is expected that the bill will resurface during the Senate hearing.
Proposals
The bill proposes to give users greater control over their data and establish requirements for opting out of targeted advertising and limiting data transfers. Additionally, it would create a private right of action, allowing consumers to claim economic damages through the courts and override state laws.
The Senate hearing will feature experts such as Ryan Calo, professor at the University of Washington School of Law and co-director of the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab; Amba Kak, executive director at the AI Now Institute; and Udbhav Tiwari, senior product policy manager at Mozilla. The committee indicated that more witnesses will be announced soon.
Congress is also considering specific regulations for AI, although no concrete law has been passed yet. In May, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a roadmap for AI regulation, although it did not call for specific regulations.
With the rapid evolution of AI technology and its impact on data privacy and security, the need for clear and comprehensive legislation becomes increasingly urgent. Thursday's hearing could be an important step toward establishing these crucial regulations.
