Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley is leading a bipartisan, bicameral effort to protect would-be corporate whistleblowers in artificial intelligence.
The bill would prevent AI firms from retaliating against employees who disclose security lapses that create a risk of foreign countries or thieves obtaining the companies’ technology. It would also protect workers discussing larger concerns about public safety.
Grassley, a longtime advocate of whistleblower protections, will be introducing the legislation with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).
All but Schatz sit on the Judiciary Committee. Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) will lead the companion bill in the House.
A role for Congress: Grassley cast the bill as an effort to keep lawmakers in the loop as AI develops. Here’s what the veteran Iowa Republican told us:
“Whistleblowers are one of the best ways to ensure Congress keeps pace as the AI industry rapidly develops.”
Obernolte said the bill would “help safeguard the American people from emerging technological risks and protect the integrity of our AI systems.”
Last summer, Grassley sent a letter to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman interrogating him about the company’s use of non-disclosure agreements.
This followed reports that OpenAI’s contract provisions were getting in the way when employees wanted to report concerns about artificial intelligence safety. OpenAI changed its NDA policies earlier in the year.
The Republican Congress has been reluctant to regulate AI, and the House is looking to stop states from overseeing the industry. But the GOP has embraced the role of whistleblowers.
Grassley’s bill focuses on security vulnerabilities and potential law-breaking. The measure would also take on the disclosure of “any failure to appropriately respond to a substantial and specific danger that the development, deployment, or use of artificial intelligence may pose to public safety, public health, or national security.”
Facebook focus: Last month, Grassley’s Judiciary panel also heard from Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former policy executive at Facebook who wrote a book about her time at the company.
Following the hearing, Grassley sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg alleging the company tried to silence Wynn-Williams in violation of Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower protections.
In the letter, Grassley also sought information on any other Facebook or Meta employees who had tried to disclose information to federal authorities over the prior decade.
