CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of the Consortium of Privacy Regulators (Consortium), sent a letter to U.S. Senate leaders urging lawmakers to remove a provision in the federal budget reconciliation bill that establishes a 10-year ban on states from enforcing any state law or regulation addressing artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems. In the letter, the Consortium explains that the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology demands the flexibility and responsiveness that states can provide and asks lawmakers to remove the provision and ensure that states retain their essential role in protecting their residents from privacy harms. “Leaders nationwide — across both sides of the aisle — are sounding the alarm: a ban on state AI regulation could rob millions of Americans of rights they already enjoy and end states’ ability to swiftly respond to emerging and evolving privacy challenges spurred by AI technology. States are often on the front lines of developing strong privacy and technology protections for their residents — I urge lawmakers to remove the 10-year AI regulation ban provision on states and allow this important work to continue.” – AG Bonta