Hawley and Blumenthal on Jan. 10, 2024. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
People would be able to sue tech companies for pirating their data for AI training under a bill that Sens. Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal are introducing Monday, per an announcement shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: Members of Congress are looking at protecting data and copyright from AI training at a time when actually regulating the tech itself seems like a distant goal.
- Hawley and Blumenthal's bill comes the same week the Trump administration is set to unveil its AI action plan, which is focused on "winning the AI race" and is unlikely to wade into copyright issues.
Driving the news: The AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act is rolling out after a hearing where Hawley accused companies including Meta and OpenAI of pirating vast droves of protected works.
It would:
- Bar AI companies from training on copyrighted works.
- Allow people to sue to sue for use of their personal data or copyrighted works without giving consent.
- Require companies to disclose which third parties will be given access to data if consent is given.
- Provide for financial penalties and injunctive relief as remedies.
What they're saying: "AI companies are robbing the American people blind while leaving artists, writers, and other creators with zero recourse," Hawley said in a statement.
- "It's time for Congress to give the American worker their day in court to protect their personal data and creative works."
- Blumenthal: "Tech companies must be held accountable—and liable legally—when they breach consumer privacy, collecting, monetizing or sharing personal information without express consent."
