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The Hill
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Blackburn says AI deal with Cruz is off
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said Monday that a deal to update language of a provision in President Trump's tax package seeking to bar states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) is off. Just one day earlier, Blackburn announced she had reached an agreement with Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on new text that would bar states from regulating AI for five years and featured exemptions for laws on child online safety and publicity rights. However, she pulled support for the updated provision Monday evening. 'While I appreciate Chairman Cruz's efforts to find acceptable language that allows states to protect their citizens from the abuses of AI, the current language is not acceptable to those who need these protections the most,' Blackburn said in a statement. 'This provision could allow Big Tech to continue to exploit kids, creators, and conservatives,' she continued. 'Until Congress passes federally preemptive legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act and an online privacy framework, we can't block states from making laws that protect their citizens.' Blackburn has been a key proponent of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which she reintroduced last month alongside Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senate leadership. 'For as long as I've been in Congress, I've worked alongside federal and state legislators, parents seeking to protect their kids online, and the creative community in Tennessee to fight back against Big Tech's exploitation by passing legislation to govern the virtual space,' she added. The Tennessee Republican now plans to co-sponsor Sen. Maria Cantwell's (D-Wash.) amendment to strip the AI provision from the reconciliation bill, in addition to filing her own amendment, according to Cantwell's office. Cantwell, in turn, also plans to co-sponsor Blackburn's amendment, alongside Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Earlier in the day, she had slammed the deal between Blackburn and Cruz, arguing it did 'nothing to protect kids or consumers.' 'It's just another giveaway to tech companies,' Cantwell, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement. 'This provision gives AI and social media a brand-new shield against litigation and state regulation. This is Section 230 on steroids.' 'And when [Commerce Secretary] Howard Lutnick has the authority to force states to take this deal or lose all of their BEAD funding, consumers will find out just how catastrophic this deal is,' she added. The provision is tied to $500 million in AI infrastructure and deployment funding under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Under the updated language, if states want access to the funds, they cannot regulate AI for five years. The measure previously sought to bar state regulation for a 10-year period. Blackburn's last-minute shift on the provision comes at a key moment, as the Senate has been voting for hours on amendments to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which Republicans are hoping to get across the finish line before the July 4 holiday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP senators reach deal on AI regulation ban
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that she reached a deal with Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on new text for a provision in President Trump's sweeping tax package that seeks to bar states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI).The updated text would enact a 'temporary pause,' banning states from regulating AI for five years if they want access to $500 million in AI infrastructure and deployment funding included in the bill. The original provision, which Blackburn opposed, sought to limit state legislation for a 10-year also includes new exemptions for state laws seeking to regulate unfair or deceptive practices, children's online safety, child sexual abuse material and publicity rights.'For decades, Congress has proven incapable of passing legislation to govern the virtual space and protect Americans from being exploited by Big Tech, and it's why I continue to fight to pass federal protections for Tennesseans and Americans alike,' Blackburn said in a statement.'To ensure we do not decimate the progress states like Tennessee have made to stand in the gap, I am pleased Chairman Cruz has agreed to update the AI provision to exempt state laws that protect kids, creators, and other vulnerable individuals from the unintended consequences of AI,' she has been a key proponent of legislation seeking to protect kids online. She reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) last month alongside Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).'I look forward to working with him in the coming months to hold Big Tech accountable — including by passing the Kids Online Safety Act and an online privacy framework that gives consumers more power over their data,' she added. 'It's time to get the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to the President's desk so we can deliver on our promise of enacting the America First agenda.'It's unclear whether Blackburn and Cruz's deal on the AI provision will resolve the concerns of other lawmakers who have previously voiced opposition to the measure, including Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).The provision survived scrutiny from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough last week, who ruled that the AI moratorium did not violate the Byrd rule and can remain in the reconciliation Senate is expected to move forward with a series of votes on the package Monday morning, as they race to get the bill across the finish line before Trump's self-imposed deadline of July 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
GOP senators reach deal on AI regulation ban
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that she reached a deal with Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on new text for a provision in President Trump's sweeping tax package that seeks to bar states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI).The updated text would enact a 'temporary pause,' banning states from regulating AI for five years if they want access to $500 million in AI infrastructure and deployment funding included in the bill. The original provision, which Blackburn opposed, sought to limit state legislation for a 10-year also includes new exemptions for state laws seeking to regulate unfair or deceptive practices, children's online safety, child sexual abuse material and publicity rights.'For decades, Congress has proven incapable of passing legislation to govern the virtual space and protect Americans from being exploited by Big Tech, and it's why I continue to fight to pass federal protections for Tennesseans and Americans alike,' Blackburn said in a statement.'To ensure we do not decimate the progress states like Tennessee have made to stand in the gap, I am pleased Chairman Cruz has agreed to update the AI provision to exempt state laws that protect kids, creators, and other vulnerable individuals from the unintended consequences of AI,' she has been a key proponent of legislation seeking to protect kids online. She reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) last month alongside Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).'I look forward to working with him in the coming months to hold Big Tech accountable — including by passing the Kids Online Safety Act and an online privacy framework that gives consumers more power over their data,' she added. 'It's time to get the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to the President's desk so we can deliver on our promise of enacting the America First agenda.'It's unclear whether Blackburn and Cruz's deal on the AI provision will resolve the concerns of other lawmakers who have previously voiced opposition to the measure, including Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).The provision survived scrutiny from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough last week, who ruled that the AI moratorium did not violate the Byrd rule and can remain in the reconciliation Senate is expected to move forward with a series of votes on the package Monday morning, as they race to get the bill across the finish line before Trump's self-imposed deadline of July 4.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Minnesota lawmakers approve social media mental health warning measure
Minnesota lawmakers have approved a measure requiring social media platforms to display a warning label, cautioning about the negative impacts of its use on mental health. The bill, which the Legislature sent to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Thursday, requires platforms to display the warning each time a user accesses the site. Users must acknowledge the 'potential for harm' and choose 'to proceed to the social media platform despite the risk.' The measure specifically notes the warning label cannot be exclusively provided in a platform's terms and conditions or include 'extraneous' information reducing the visibility of the warning. The label must also feature resources to address the potential negative impacts associated with social media, including a website and phone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The push to include warning labels on the apps has gained steam amid increasing concerns about the impacts of social media, particularly on children. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for social media warning labels last year after previously issuing an advisory about the impact of social media on kids' mental health. 'The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,' Murthy wrote in an op-ed published by The New York Times last June. 'A surgeon general's warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,' he added. Congress has also considered legislation to establish stronger protections for kids online, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA, which was reintroduced last month by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), seeks to create regulations for the features that tech companies offer kids online and reduce the addictive nature and mental health effects of these platforms. The bill passed the Senate last year but ultimately hit roadblocks in the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Minnesota lawmakers approve social media mental health warning measure
Minnesota lawmakers have approved a measure requiring social media platforms to display a warning label, cautioning about the negative impacts of its use on mental health. The bill, which the legislature sent to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Thursday, requires platforms to display the warning each time a user accesses the site. Users must acknowledge the 'potential for harm' and choose 'to proceed to the social media platform despite the risk.' The measure specifically notes the warning label cannot be exclusively provided in a platform's terms and conditions or include 'extraneous' information reducing the visibility of the warning. The label must also feature resources to address the potential negative impacts associated with social media, including a website and phone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The push to include warning labels on the apps has gained steam amid increasing concerns about the impacts of social media, particularly on children. Former surgeon general Vivek Murthy called for social media warning labels last year after previously issuing an advisory about the impact of social media on kids' mental health. 'The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,' Murthy wrote in an op-ed published by The New York Times last June. 'A surgeon general's warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,' he added. Congress has also considered legislation to establish stronger protections for kids online, including the Kids Online Safey Act (KOSA). KOSA, which was reintroduced last month by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), seeks to create regulations for the features that tech companies offer kids online and reduce the addictive nature and mental health effects of these platforms. The bill passed the Senate last year but ultimately hit roadblocks in the House.
