Teamsters President Sean O’Brien demands Congress to remove the proposed federal measure which blocks state regulation of artificial intelligence for ten years because it benefits Big Tech at the expense of workers and communities.
The proposal which ties to President Donald Trump’s comprehensive tax and spending bill has received backing from Republican Senator Ted Cruz according to O’Brien who expressed his disapproval through a social media letter. The legislation would eliminate citizens’ rights to regulate new technologies that are reshaping employment and everyday existence.
O’Brien described the measure as a catastrophic threat to communities and working people while accusing its supporters of choosing corporate interests over public oversight. The measure would establish an unmonitored space for technology companies to operate freely without regulatory oversight.
The union leader’s statements demonstrate increasing bipartisan opposition toward federal initiatives which aim to protect AI developers from state regulatory oversight. The Teamsters union defends more than 1.3 million members who work as truck drivers and warehouse staff among others who face direct risks from AI-driven automation.
The bill’s supporters claim it will let small AI companies develop new technologies by avoiding the need to comply with various state regulations. The legislation faces opposition from labor groups and privacy advocates because it threatens to dismantle essential protections during a time when AI systems start affecting safety standards and employment rights and civil liberties.
