Federal Bill Proposes AI Duty of Care Standard
- •Senator Blackburn proposes 'Trump America AI Act' requiring developers to exercise care against foreseeable harms.
- •Legislation would sunset Section 230 liability protections for AI platforms and protect artists' digital likenesses.
- •Framework mandates third-party audits for high-risk systems and requires quarterly AI-related employment reporting.
The proposed "Trump America AI Act" marks a significant shift toward federal oversight of artificial intelligence, aiming to replace the current patchwork of state regulations with a unified national standard. At its core, the legislation introduces a "duty of care" requirement, compelling developers of AI chatbots to mitigate "reasonably foreseeable" harms. This legal principle essentially forces companies to prioritize safety during the design phase rather than addressing issues after deployment.
Beyond safety, the 300-page framework addresses long-standing tech industry protections by proposing a sunset of Section 230 liability shields for platforms hosting AI-generated content. This move, combined with provisions for artists to control their digital likenesses and voices, suggests a more aggressive stance on intellectual property and platform responsibility. The bill also incorporates several bipartisan efforts, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and bans on AI companion bots for minors, highlighting a growing consensus on protecting younger users from algorithmic risks.
The legislation extends into the corporate and administrative realms, requiring publicly traded companies to report AI-driven hiring and layoffs quarterly. High-risk systems would face mandatory third-party audits to detect viewpoint or political discrimination, a point of emphasis for conservative lawmakers. While the bill has yet to be formally introduced, its broad scope and alignment with executive priorities suggest it will serve as a foundational document for upcoming legislative debates regarding the future of American AI governance.