Meta’s Super PAC Fights AI Regulation Amid State Push
▼ Summary
– Meta is investing tens of millions into a new super PAC to fight state-level AI regulations it believes could stifle advancement.
– The PAC, named the American Technology Excellence Project, will work to elect tech-friendly politicians from both parties in the midterm elections.
– A key focus for the PAC is promoting parental control over children’s online experiences, an area where Meta faces scrutiny over child safety.
– This initiative responds to a surge in state-level AI regulation, with over 1,000 bills introduced and two specific bills awaiting the California governor’s decision.
– The move aligns with broader Silicon Valley efforts, including a recent $100 million super PAC, to oppose a “patchwork” of state AI laws and advocate for federal inaction.
In a significant escalation of Big Tech’s political engagement, Meta is channeling tens of millions of dollars into a new super PAC designed to counter state-level artificial intelligence regulations. This move signals a deepening conflict between technology giants and lawmakers concerned about the rapid, unchecked advancement of AI. The company, parent to Facebook and Instagram, is positioning this financial muscle to protect what it views as essential innovation from legislative hurdles it considers detrimental.
Dubbed the American Technology Excellence Project, this political action committee represents Meta’s most aggressive step yet to influence tech policy. The effort builds on a previous PAC launched in California aimed at supporting candidates favorable to the tech industry’s interests. The new super PAC will be managed by a bipartisan team, including Republican strategist Brian Baker and the Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions. Their mission is to elect politicians from both major parties who align with Meta’s vision during the upcoming midterm elections.
According to a company spokesperson, the PAC’s objectives are threefold: to promote and defend the leadership of U.S. technology firms, advocate for the progress of artificial intelligence, and emphasize parental control over how children interact with online apps and AI tools. This focus on parental oversight arrives amidst heightened scrutiny over child safety. Meta itself has faced criticism following reports that its internal AI chatbots were permitted to engage in “romantic” conversations with minors, alongside allegations that the company may have suppressed internal research on child safety.
The specific states targeted by the super PAC remain undisclosed, as does the size of its operational team. This political push coincides with a surge in AI-related legislation at the state level, driven by a perception that federal lawmakers have been slow to act. During the most recent legislative session, over 1,000 AI bills were introduced across all fifty states. In California, two significant bills have passed and await the governor’s decision. One proposes regulations for AI companion chatbots to safeguard minors and vulnerable users, while the other would impose new transparency mandates on major AI companies.
A Meta executive stated that the new group aims to back state candidates nationwide who “embrace AI development, champion the U.S. technology industry, and defend American tech leadership.” This sentiment echoes a broader industry argument that a fragmented regulatory landscape, or “patchwork” of state laws, would be cumbersome for large AI firms to manage and could stifle innovation. Tech leaders contend that this would put the United States at a competitive disadvantage, particularly in the global race for AI supremacy against China.
This is not an isolated initiative. The tech sector has markedly increased its political activities this year. Last month, a separate super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI’s president launched with a $100 million war chest to lobby against AI regulation. Earlier, a proposal that would have preemptively blocked states from regulating AI for a decade nearly found its way into the federal budget before being removed. These coordinated efforts highlight the industry’s determination to shape the legal environment in which artificial intelligence will evolve.
(Source: TechCrunch)
