This week, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., brought out the “Consumer Safety Technology Act.”
The bill will “direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore the use of AI in their work through a pilot program” and “direct the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively.”
U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Lori Trahan, D-Mass., are co-sponsoring Soto’s proposal.
“Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital tokens are playing a growing importance in our daily lives and are proving to be an economic driver for the 21st-century economy,” said Soto. “It is critical that the United States acts as a global leader in these emerging technologies to ensure our democratic values remain at the forefront of this technological development. As a responsible global leader, the United States must strike the appropriate balance of providing an environment that fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection.”
“Embracing cutting-edge innovation and harnessing the power of technology, the Consumer Safety Technology Act is a visionary step towards safeguarding American consumers in the digital age,” said Burgess. “By directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to explore the application of artificial intelligence, this legislation would proactively track injury trends, identify hazards, and monitor recalls swiftly, ensuring timely interventions and improved safety standards for all.”
“For too long, Congress and regulators have struggled to keep up with new and emerging technologies – only stepping in after consumers are harmed. With the Consumer Safety Technology Act, we have the opportunity to flip that script,” said Trahan. “We’re introducing this legislation so government agencies can better study rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain. It’s our responsibility to proactively protect consumers before they get hurt, not just respond afterwards.”
“The United States has been a global technology leader. It is crucial that we continue to lead in technological innovation and ensure we do not become reliant on foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party to stay connected. The Consumer Safety Technology Act would authorize the Department of Commerce and other agencies to study blockchain technology to help us unleash its capabilities and protect consumers from fraud. As new technologies are quickly developed, it is critical we stay ahead of the curve by developing policies that allow our home-grown technologies to thrive domestically and globally,” said Guthrie.
The bill “directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to launch a pilot program exploring the use of artificial intelligence to track injury trends, identify hazards, monitor recalls, or identify products not meeting importation requirements; requires the Department of Commerce and other agencies to study blockchain technology in the context of consumer products and safety; and directs the Department of Commerce (DOC) and FTC to report on their efforts to address unfair or deceptive trade practices related to digital tokens.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
