According to Common Dreams, President Trump is backing a sweeping AI regulation strategy that critics argue is heavily tilted in favor of Big Tech. The crux of the debate is a proposed executive order that would form a Justice Department “AI Litigation Task Force” specifically to challenge and potentially block state-level AI laws.
Under the draft plan, the federal government would review state AI regulations it deems “onerous” and could even withhold federal broadband funds from states whose laws don’t align with the federal vision. The move is being framed by Trump’s administration as a way to create a unified national AI approach, but opponents see it as a power grab.
Critics—from consumer advocates to civil-rights campaigners—warn that this effort threatens to strip away important state protections. They argue that by centralizing authority in Washington, the executive order could nullify local laws designed to protect people from harmful AI uses, such as discriminatory algorithms, deep fake abuse, or invasive data profiling.
Public Citizen, among others, has strongly criticized the move, calling it a “gift-wrapped favor to Big Tech.” They argue that rather than pre-empting state laws, the U.S. needs strong, enforceable national AI safeguards—not a deregulatory approach that benefits corporations over people.
