The White House on Friday unveiled its first national artificial intelligence (AI) policy framework, urging Congress to pass legislation this year to create a consistent federal standard for AI development. The legislative outline aims to replace the current patchwork of 50 state laws with a unified “One Rulebook” to reduce regulatory uncertainty, protect free speech, and safeguard children, according to an exclusive obtained by Fox News Digital.
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Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasized the need for a single national policy, telling Fox News Digital, “This legislative proposal delivers on that.” The framework was developed following an executive order signed in December by President Donald Trump, which tasked the administration with establishing a national approach to AI regulation reflecting U.S. leadership interests.
The proposal recommends that Congress preempt state laws that impose burdensome or conflicting rules on AI developers, while still respecting states’ traditional police powers to enforce laws protecting children, preventing fraud, and safeguarding consumers. It also specifies that state authorities retain control over zoning for AI infrastructure. The framework states, “States should not be permitted to regulate AI development, because it is an inherently interstate phenomenon with key foreign policy and national security implications.”
Beyond regulatory harmonization, the White House calls for measures to protect children from AI-related harms. It proposes legislating commercially reasonable, privacy-protective, and age-assurance requirements for AI platforms accessible to minors, including parental attestation. Additionally, platforms would need to implement features aimed at reducing risks of sexual exploitation and self-harm among children. Kratsios said Congress should “ensure parents are empowered to shape and protect their children’s digital upbringing.”
David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, summarized the framework’s goals to Fox News Digital as safeguarding childhood, protecting First Amendment rights from AI censorship, preventing increased energy costs from AI operations, and sustaining American innovation globally.
The administration is pushing for bipartisan support to enact this national AI framework within the year amid growing concerns over fragmented state regulations and the strategic importance of AI technology.
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