US Senator Ed Markey has unveiled a comprehensive 'AI accountability agenda' consisting of multiple bills designed to curb the harmful effects of artificial intelligence, including federal certification requirements for datacenters, restrictions on automated hiring systems, and stronger safeguards for children interacting with AI chatbots.
Datacenter Certification to Prevent Environmental Harm
Markey's latest bill, to be introduced in the coming weeks, would require companies that own or propose datacenters to obtain certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) affirming that the facilities 'will not harm the public interest' before construction begins. The proposal mandates that the FCC evaluate potential effects on air and water quality, noise levels, energy costs, electricity system reliability, local ecosystems, wildlife, the local economy, and jobs. The commission would consult with federal, state, and local agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and zoning boards.
'We need to make sure these datacenters don't turn into pollution bombs,' Markey said. The senator emphasized that a piecemeal approach to AI regulation 'would leave too many people exposed' and that federal action is necessary, as little progress has been made since ChatGPT's release in 2022.
Addressing Algorithmic Bias and Worker Surveillance
Other bills in the agenda include a measure to ban employers from primarily relying on automated systems for hiring, firing, and promotion decisions; a proposal to require healthcare facilities to provide human override options for AI decisions; and legislation to protect workers who disagree with AI recommendations. Markey also introduced a bill to restrict the growing use of surveillance technology in the workplace and ban productivity quotas that push staff beyond physical limits, leading to injuries.
'The conversations I had with workers absolutely animated my decision to introduce legislation,' Markey said, noting that his father worked in a factory before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created and suffered a crushed and cut-off finger due to a machine accident, with his boss demanding he return to work promptly.
Child Safety and Algorithmic Audits
Markey's agenda includes bills to require stronger safeguards for AI chatbot companies to prevent children from becoming emotionally dependent on them, and to mandate independent audits of potential bias and discrimination before releasing algorithms that make important decisions. One of his child safety proposals, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, passed the Senate in March, banning targeted ads to children and teens and setting strict limits on collecting personal information from minors.
The agenda highlights specific people affected by these issues, including grieving parents whose 14-year-old son died by suicide after being sexually groomed by a chatbot, a rural Georgia resident unable to drink tap water after datacenter construction began nearby, a woman denied housing by an allegedly discriminatory algorithm, and a veteran nurse distressed about following an AI model's instincts over her own.
Federal Civil Rights Oversight and Environmental Reporting
Another proposal would require every federal agency using, funding, or overseeing AI to have an office of civil rights focused on combating bias and discrimination. A separate bill would mandate companies to report the energy and environmental effects of datacenters in a standardized way.
Despite Congress's inaction on AI regulation, Markey is optimistic that many of his proposals will win bipartisan support. 'Ultimately, there will be national solutions that will be put on the books,' he said.
