The people working directly with AI systems are often the first to recognize when something has gone wrong. Our bill ensures AI whistleblowers are able to report serious legal, security, or public safety concerns without risking their careers.

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Curtis Cosponsors Legislation to Protect AI Whistleblowers

Source: https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-ai-whistleblowers/ AI Whistleblower Protection Act would protect workers who report legal violations and public safety risks while preserving American innovation

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) cosponsored the*AI Whistleblower Protection Act*, bipartisan legislation led by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to protect employees at artificial intelligence (AI) companies who report legal violations, security failures, or risks to public safety, ensuring they can raise legitimate concerns without fear of retaliation.

“AI has enormous potential, and it’s critical that the United States continue to lead the world in its development. But innovation and accountability have to go hand in hand,”said Senator Curtis. “The people working directly with these systems are often the first to recognize when something has gone wrong. They should be able to report serious legal, security, or public safety concerns without risking their careers or being silenced by an NDA. This bill provides that protection without creating another federal regulator or standing in the way of responsible innovation.”

Background:

As increasingly powerful AI systems are developed and deployed, employees working directly on the technology may be among the first to identify security vulnerabilities, legal violations, or other risks that could threaten the public. Existing employment agreements, including nondisclosure agreements, can discourage workers from bringing those concerns forward.

Congress has established whistleblower protections and Department of Labor enforcement processes across a range of industries, including transportation, food safety, corporate fraud, and tax law. TheAI Whistleblower Protection Actbuilds on that existing framework rather than establishing a new federal regulatory regime.

TheAI Whistleblower Protection Actwould:

• Protect AI workers who disclose suspected violations of federal law, security vulnerabilities, or serious public safety risks associated with AI systems;
• Protect employees from retaliation for making covered disclosures;
• Prevent nondisclosure agreements and similar employment provisions from being used to prohibit protected disclosures; and
• Use the Department of Labor’s existing whistleblower process to investigate and resolve complaints, rather than creating a new regulatory agency or authority.

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) also cosponsored the legislation.

Senator Curtis has consistently worked to establish targeted, commonsense safeguards for emerging technologies while preserving American leadership in artificial intelligence. His recent efforts include the bipartisan*AI Labeling Act, which would establish transparency requirements for AI-generated content, and theSAFE KIDS Act, which would establish safeguards to protect children interacting with AI chatbots—much of which was included in the Senate Commerce Committee–passedCHATBOT Act.*

The full text of****the bill is availablehere.