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Drexel University study finds AI companion chatbots harassing, manipulating consumers
Reviewers reported a persistent disregard for boundaries, unwanted requests for photos, and upselling manipulation. “This clearly underscores the need for safeguards and ethical guidelines to protect users,” said a study co-author.
AI Legislative Update: July 3, 2025
This week: An eleventh-hour amendment struck the state AI law moratorium from the Congressional budget bill, and AI-related bills in California moved ahead before the coming summer recess.
The end of ‘AI scraping free-for-all’? Cloudflare to block AI crawlers by default, offer pay-per-crawl service
The digital infrastructure company will now block AI crawlers by default. Cloudflare is also testing a pay-per-crawl service for website hosts.
Senate strikes AI regulation ban from budget bill
Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
The latest in Congress: Budget bill revised to ban state AI laws for 5 years, allow protections for kids and personal likeness
Republican leaders revised the proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI laws on Sunday night, prior to opening debate on the Senate floor Monday morning.
AI Legislative Update: June 27, 2025
This week: Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) into law; Illinois passed a bill prohibiting AI chatbots from acting as mental health therapists; and AI-related bills kept moving in California.
Transparency Coalition statement: America deserves a full and free discussion of AI, not a 10-year gag order
A clause in the budget bill would deny all 50 states the ability to enforce any laws around artificial intelligence for a period of ten years. The proposal would have catastrophic consequences for innovation, consumer safety, and American security.
Judge hands down mixed ruling in Anthropic’s AI copyright case; read the full order here
A federal judge ruled that Anthropic’s use of a pirate book database infringed copyright, but the use of books obtained legally represented fair use. We have the full ruling available.
Historic moment: Gov. Abbott signs Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) into law
The enactment of TRAIGA represents the first red-state adoption of a comprehensive AI law designed to encourage tech innovation while protecting Texans from harm.
AI Legislative Update: June 20, 2025
This week: The session ends in Albany with the RAISE Act moving to the governor’s desk. Meanwhile, significant AI bills continue to move forward in Sacramento.
Guide to the RAISE Act, the New York Responsible AI Safety and Education Act
The RAISE Act, passed by the New York legislature on June 12, now awaits approval or veto on the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul. It’s one of the most significant AI measures passed during the 2025 legislative season.
As New York legislature adjourns, the RAISE Act awaits Gov. Hochul’s signature
New York legislators adjourned sine die in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, leaving dozens of bills out of time. Still alive: the RAISE Act, which awaits action on the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Complete guide to the California Report on Frontier AI Policy
The 53-page report from the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI is expected to shape state AI policy in the coming months and years.
TCAI’s Jai Jaisimha testifies at California AI Abuse Act hearing in Sacramento
The California AI Abuse Protection Act, SB 11, would strengthen the integrity of legal evidence in addition to creating safeguards against deepfake abuse.
OpenAI partners with Mattel: Is a ChatGPT Barbie in the works?
The maker of Barbie, American Girl, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price playsets is gearing up to infuse its toys with AI-driven interactive features.
AI Legislative Update: June 13, 2025
This week: Vermont’s new ‘Kids Code’ got signed into law, Florida enacted a deepfake law, the New York State Senate approved the RAISE Act, and AI bills kept moving in Sacramento.
Vermont Gov. Scott signs ‘Kids Code’ digital design bill into law
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott today signed a statewide Kids Code bill into law. The new law requires a duty of care from companies that develop and provide online services or products, ensuring their products will not inflict emotional distress or result in online addiction.
Coalition alleges that AI therapy chatbots are practicing medicine without a license
A coalition of civil society groups has filed a complaint asserting that therapy chatbots produced by Character.AI and Meta AI Studio are practicing medicine without a license. They are asking state attorneys general and the FTC to investigate.
Q&A with the Center for Humane Technology: ‘Tech should help humans flourish’
An insightful conversation about artificial intelligence, human desires, the attention economy, and how to incentivize more humane AI development: “We want technology that helps us problem-solve, but that also lets us live our lives with dignity and joy.”
Florida takes on AI deepfakes with ‘Brooke’s Law,’ now in effect statewide
Florida became the latest state to protect kids and adults from the harms of AI-generated deepfake images, as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed ‘Brooke’s Law’ into the state’s legal code. The new law requires online platforms to create a process to take down harmful explicit AI deepfake images.