Fischer Blocks Klobuchar’s UC Attempt on Election-Related Bipartisan AI Bills

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on Wednesday evening failed to secure unanimous consent for two of her election-related AI bills. The lawmaker requested UC for the Protecting Elections from Deceptive AI Act (S-2770), which she introduced with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and the AI Transparency in Elections Act (S-3875), co-written with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The Klobuchar-chaired Senate Rules Committee advanced both bills in May (see 2405150048). Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday urged the upper chamber to pass the bills without delay to protect the integrity of U.S. elections against AI-driven misinformation. Senate Rules Committee ranking member Deb Fischer, R-Neb., objected to both bills on free speech grounds. S-2770 is “overly broad,” and its “vague terms” greatly expand the regulation of protected speech, she said. In addition, S-3875 fails to strike the proper balance of protecting online users against misinformation while also protecting free speech rights, she said.