Christopher Olsen

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California’s 2024 legislative session has been marked with exciting developments and a clear focus on setting the rules of the road for artificial intelligence (AI), with some measures becoming law and others stalling out along the way. Last month, Governor Newsom signed 17 bills regulating AI in the Golden State. Notably, Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1047, which would have imposed safety requirements on developers of large models to avoid certain harms. In vetoing the bill, Governor Newsom noted that it was not comprehensive or precise enough, improperly focused on large models even though small ones could present similar risks, and did not take into account whether an Al system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making, or uses sensitive data. Newsom’s veto also represents a big win for the numerous industry members, politicians, and academics who lobbied against the bill, arguing that its passage would stifle innovation in the space. Nevertheless, the AI bills Newsom did sign are expected to have wide-ranging impacts on the AI industry. A summary of those bills is below.Continue Reading Governor Newsom Signs (and Vetoes) Major California AI Legislation

On October 1, 2024, the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code (Maryland AADC) became effective. The Maryland AADC introduces onerous new compliance requirements on companies that are reasonably likely to be accessed by minors under the age of 18.Continue Reading Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Effective October 1, 2024

On June 7, 2023, the New York legislature passed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act (SAFE Act or the Act) and the New York Child Data Protection Act (CDPA), both aimed at protecting children online. The SAFE Act prohibits covered social media companies from providing individuals under 18 (minors) with “addictive feeds” (as defined in the SAFE Act) and overnight notifications, absent parental consent. The CDPA is intended to complement the SAFE Act by limiting the extent to which providers of internet websites, online and mobile applications, and connected devices (service) can collect, use, share, and sell minors’ personal data. If signed into law by Governor Hochul, the SAFE Act and CDPA would create new, onerous requirements for entities doing business in New York. The key provisions of each act are highlighted below.Continue Reading New York Legislature Passes a Pair of Bills to Protect Children’s Privacy Online

On May 17, 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed the Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act (SB 24-205) (CAIA), regulating the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Colorado is the first state to enact comprehensive AI legislation. The law becomes effective February 1, 2026.Continue Reading Colorado Passes First-in-Nation Artificial Intelligence Act

On April 7, 2024, Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Congress will once again consider a comprehensive federal data privacy bill that, if passed, would dramatically alter the privacy landscape across the United States.Continue Reading Congress Proposes New Comprehensive Privacy Legislation: The American Privacy Rights Act

On March 25, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s HB 3. The law requires that social media platforms prohibit users under 14 years old from creating accounts and requires these platforms to obtain parental consent for account registrants who are 14 or 15 years old. The law also imposes age verification requirements for online services that knowingly distribute a significant amount of “harmful” content.Continue Reading State Social Media Law Patchwork Emerging: Florida Passes Law to Restrict Minors’ Use of Online Services