US Senator Ed Markey is intensifying his push to regulate artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked AI poses risks to the environment, workers, and consumers.
The Massachusetts Democrat has authored nearly a dozen bills targeting the harmful effects of AI, with a new proposal focused on federal certification for data centers that power the technology.
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Data Center Certification Requirements
Markey's latest bill would require companies to obtain certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before building or operating data centers.
The certification would ensure that facilities do not harm the public interest, evaluating effects on air and water quality, energy costs, and local ecosystems.
“We need to make sure these data centers don’t turn into pollution bombs,” Markey said.
The bill is part of a broader “AI accountability agenda” unveiled Friday, aimed at “taking power back from big tech.”
Workplace and Consumer Protections
Other proposals would ban employers from relying solely on automated systems for hiring, firing, and promotions.
Markey also seeks to restrict workplace surveillance technology and ban productivity quotas that push workers beyond physical limits.
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“The conversations I had with workers absolutely animated my decision to introduce legislation,” Markey said.
His father worked in a factory before OSHA was created, and lost a finger in a workplace accident, making labor rights personal for the senator.
Additional bills would require AI developers to conduct independent audits for bias and discrimination before deploying algorithms that make important decisions.
Markey also aims to protect children from emotional dependence on AI chatbots and ensure health care facilities allow human override of AI decisions.
Despite slow progress in Congress, Markey remains optimistic that national solutions will eventually gain bipartisan support.
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One of his child safety bills, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, passed the Senate in March.
