Expected Trump AI Executive Order Does the Bidding of Big Tech, Public Citizen Says
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Numerous news outlets are reporting that the Trump White House is preparing to issue an executive order that aims to preempt state laws on artificial intelligence (AI).
In response, Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman said:
“For all his posturing against Big Tech, Donald Trump is nothing but the industry’s well-paid waterboy.
“AI technologies are already causing massive harms – undermining the emotional well-being of young people and adults and, in some cases, contributing to suicide; exacerbating racial disparities at workplaces; wrongfully denying patients healthcare; driving up electric bills and increasing greenhouse gas emissions; displacing jobs; and undermining society’s basic concept of truth.
“Against that backdrop, it’s almost unfathomable that the Trump administration or Republicans in Congress would work to block sensible state regulation of the Big Tech companies recklessly rolling out new AI products, especially when there are no meaningful federal standards in place.
“Yet simultaneously, it’s no surprise at all. Big Tech companies have spent the past year cozying up to Trump – doing everything from paying for his garish White House ballroom to adopting content moderation policies of his liking – and this is their reward. It’s a fabulous return on a very modest investment – at the expense of all Americans.”
Public Citizen Big Tech Accountability Advocate J.B. Branch added, “Let’s be clear: The Senate already rejected Big Tech’s preemption scheme 99–1. Instead of respecting that democratic outcome, industry lobbyists are now running to the White House. It’s a blatant and disgusting circumvention of our democracy designed to rip away even the most basic accountability for tech giants. AI scams are exploding, children have died by suicide linked to harmful online systems, and psychologists are warning about AI-induced breakdowns, but President Trump is choosing to protect his tech oligarch friends over the safety of middle-class Americans. The administration should stop trying to shield Silicon Valley from responsibility and start listening to the overwhelming bipartisan consensus that stronger, not weaker, safeguards are needed.”