By: Richard L. Smith
Lawmakers in Washington are weighing a proposal that would bar states from regulating artificial intelligence, a move that has triggered strong backlash from New Jersey officials.
According to information released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a bipartisan group of 36 attorneys general urging Congress to reject any attempt to restrict state authority on AI safety.
Attorney General Platkin said Congress should not sideline states at a time when AI-driven scams and harmful online interactions are rapidly growing.
He pointed to an increase in reports involving children, seniors, and vulnerable residents being targeted by AI-generated schemes, manipulated by chatbots, or exposed to dangerous online content.
The coalition of attorneys general noted that while AI can deliver breakthroughs in health care and public safety, it also poses serious risks that state regulators are best positioned to respond to.
Recent reports highlight AI tools impersonating loved ones in “grandparent scams,” distorting reality for individuals facing mental-health challenges, and even reinforcing self-harm among young users.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, several states have already enacted laws to curb AI-related threats, such as voter misinformation, AI-driven robocalls, deceptive digital advertising, data-privacy violations, and algorithm-based price manipulation.
These protections fill gaps left by the absence of comprehensive federal standards.
Rather than a federal prohibition on state AI laws, the bipartisan coalition is urging Congress to collaborate with states on real safeguards that address the fast-moving risks associated with artificial intelligence.