Only weeks after the tech industry tried and failed to convince federal lawmakers to shield artificial intelligence companies from regulation, a bipartisan group of pro-business lawmakers is spearheading state legislation that would prohibit consumers from suing businesses whose AI potentially violates consumer protection laws.
In recent years, companies have been accused of using AI technologies for a variety of unfair and discriminatory practices, from increasing airline fares and raising rents to price-gouging consumers and denying medical care.
Under pressure from tech giants after their legislative loss in Washington, Colorado’s Democratic governor, Jared Polis, has called an emergency session of his state’s legislature to take up legislation that would weaken state AI regulations passed last year. One of the bills slated to be introduced in the session is framed as establishing that AI systems must comply with state consumer protection laws — something that some experts say is already required.
But the bill would also strip individuals of their right to sue AI businesses that potentially violate the Colorado Consumer Protection Act — a law meant to guard consumers against deceptive and unfair business practices. Instead, only the state’s attorney general would be permitted to bring such cases under the law.
“The Attorney General has exclusive authority to enforce” AI-related issues under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, the bill reads.
In practice, this would bar local district attorneys, watchdog groups, and individual citizens from bringing lawsuits against tech giants, according to Colorado representative Javier Mabrey (D).
“By saying the Attorney General is the only avenue of enforcement of the Colorado Consumer…
Auteur: Helen Santoro
