Washington, 18 May 2023 (GNP): US Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, has presented a bill to establish a federal Digital Platform Commission.
The bill came in response to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s recent statement before Congress in which he advocated the creation of a federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence (AI).
This revised bill, which expands on the original plan from last year, aims to address the growing need for comprehensive oversight of AI products.
For the purpose of specifically addressing AI applications, the bill underwent considerable revisions.
Specifically, it broadens the definition of a digital platform to include businesses that mostly provide “content primarily generated by algorithmic processes.”
US Senator, Bennet, emphasizes the urgency of ensuring that technology serves the public interest, particularly in light of the negative consequences it is having on children’s mental health and democracy.
“There’s no reason that the biggest tech companies on Earth should face less regulation than Colorado’s small businesses especially as we see technology corrode our democracy and harm our kids’ mental health with virtually no oversight,” said Bennet in a statement.
“Technology is moving quicker than Congress could ever hope to keep up with. We need an expert federal agency that can stand up for the American people and ensure AI tools and digital platforms operate in the public interest,” he added.
The bill’s emphasis on algorithmic procedures and their effects on the use of personal data for content creation and decision-making is noteworthy.
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These important applications would fall within the purview of the proposed commission, including those linked to generative AI tools like ChatGPT, the open-source chatbot that has gone popular.
The law adds specifications for algorithmic audits and open risk assessments for “systemically important” platforms to identify any damages brought on by their products.
The requirement for honest, open, and secure platform algorithms is also retained. Social media networks, search engines, and other online platforms continue to be subject to the bill’s extensive regulatory jurisdiction.
While some legislators support the idea of a specialized regulator for online businesses, questions have been raised over the possible dangers of establishing a whole new bureaucracy.
Professor Gary Marcus of New York University, an outspoken opponent of the artificial intelligence “hype,” issued a warning about the potential for regulatory capture, in which companies have undue influence on the government organizations in charge of holding them accountable.
Echoing these concerns, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut emphasized the importance of providing adequate support and resources to any agency tasked with regulating AI.
