Concord Privacy News: 10/15/24
California Governor Vetoes Landmark AI Regulation Bill
Governor Gavin Newsom of California has vetoed SB 1047, a bill that would have implemented the nation's most comprehensive regulations on the artificial intelligence industry. The bill, which passed with overwhelming support in the state legislature, aimed to:
- Make tech companies legally liable for AI-caused harms
- Require a "kill switch" for AI systems
- Mandate safety tests for powerful AI models
Newsom, while calling the bill "well-intentioned," argued it could burden California's AI companies and potentially hinder innovation. He expressed concerns that the bill focused too heavily on large AI models, potentially overlooking risks from smaller, specialized systems.
The veto has drawn criticism from the bill's supporters who see it as a setback for AI accountability. The decision comes amid ongoing debates about AI regulation, with some tech leaders supporting the bill and others, including OpenAI and venture capital firms, opposing it.
This development highlights the challenges in balancing AI innovation with public safety concerns, as lawmakers grapple with regulating this rapidly evolving technology.
Other Privacy News of Note
Texas Sues TikTok for Violating Children's Privacy
Texas recently sued TikTok, accusing the social media platform of violating children's privacy and state law by sharing children's personal identifying information without consent from their parents or legal guardians. The lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeks an injunction and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation of the state's Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act, or SCOPE Act. Read more.
Brain Data for Sale? California Updates Privacy Law to Protect Neural Privacy
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday approved an amendment to the existing California Consumer Privacy Act to add neural data as a protected type of sensitive personal information. California defines neural data as "information that is generated by measuring the activity of a consumer's central or peripheral nervous system, and that is not inferred from nonneural information." The new regulation gives neural data the same protections as other human biometric data, like face scans, fingerprints, or DNA. Read more.