ACT Welcomes AI Framework from the White House

ACT | The App Association said it appreciates several aspects of an artificial intelligence framework from the White House. The group acknowledged that most of the work remains to get the details right. Morgan Reed, president of ACT, said the organization is encouraged to see parts of the framework that seek a balance between protecting children, parents and consumers and empowering innovators. With more than 1,400 legislative proposals in states, ACT members face a wave of conflicting regulations, Reed said. A federal preemptive framework is key to addressing this and supporting American AI leadership, he added. ACT is especially pleased with the framework's support for a privacy protective approach to age assurance for services likely accessed by minors, Reed said. This guidance moves away from proposals like the App Store Accountability Act, which would require unnecessary collection of sensitive personal data and create liability for businesses with apps. The Parents Over Platforms Act better matches the framework's guardrails, according to Reed. The principles in the framework should align with development of a federal privacy law that preempts state laws of similar scope, ACT said. The current patchwork of state privacy laws shows the need for a national standard that provides consumer protection and flexibility for small businesses, the group added. ACT highlighted positive provisions in the framework. These include enabling innovation and American AI leadership, protecting children and empowering parents, safeguarding communities through support for data center permitting, and educating Americans and developing an AI-ready workforce.