Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Sen. Mike Lee is circulating a bill that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from making new rules around disclosing AI-generated content in political advertisements, per a draft copy seen by Axios.
The big picture: It's the latest move in what has become a political fight over agencies' power to regulate AI in elections, which kicked off when the FCC announced its intention to prop up new rules last month.
What's inside: Lee's bill, the "Ending FCC Meddling In Our Elections Act," would ban the FCC from issuing the new rules it seeks, which would require election advertisers to disclose the existence of AI-generated content in political ads.
Billy Gribbin, Lee's communications director, confirmed in a statement to Axios that the senator is circulating the bill.
- "Sen. Lee supports transparency in the use of AI in campaign ads. However, he strongly opposes the idea of a Democrat-run federal agency single-handedly changing AI usage rules just months before one of the most consequential elections in our history."
The other side: Federal Elections Commission chair Sean Cooksey, a Republican, sent a letter to FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel earlier this month arguing her agency lacks the legal authority on this front.
- The FCC has pushed back, defending its authority to promulgate these rules.
- Democratic FEC vice chair Ellen Weintraub also said she welcomes the FCC's initiative and hopes the FEC moves forward with its own rulemaking on AI in elections.
