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Artificial Intelligence

In March, we:

• Submitted comments in response to the Trump Administration’s Request for Information on the Development of an AI Action Plan, emphasizing the need for proactive federal policy to maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. SIIA’s recommendations outline key priorities across governance, global leadership, workforce and education, infrastructure, and federal AI adoption. We received coverage in Inside AI Policy, Tech Policy Press and Punchbowl News, and were cited in an American Action Forum blog.

• Led a coalition of organizations on a letter sent to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and copied OSTP, emphasizing the critical role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. The letter received coverage in FedScoop, Axios, Inside AI Policy, and Broadband Breakfast. 

• Joined a coalition letter to President Trump, urging the Administration to take decisive action to maintain U.S. leadership in AI, and calling for policies that support digital trade, prevent restrictive foreign regulations, and ensure American AI remains competitive on the global stage. 

• Hosted an AI Literacy Day LinkedIn Live event. Danny and Bethany discussed why AI literacy is essential for policymakers, industry leaders, and the broader public and provided insights on how to bridge the knowledge gap between policy and industry. If you missed it, you can watch it here.  

• Joined the Accelerate Science Now (ASN) Coalition led by SeedAI. ASN is a non-partisan coalition of leaders in industry, academia, civil society, and the research community aimed at collaborating to support a new era of rapid scientific discovery and deliver the benefits to the American people. It is designed to complement the American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP) launched by Sens. Rounds and Heinrich which SIIA has endorsed.

• Spoke at a couple of AI events: Paul was on a panel at the Special Competitive Studies Project’s (SCSP) AI+ Summit Series: Safeguarding America's Network Infrastructure, and Bethany gave a lightning talk at the SANS AI Cybersecurity Summit.

Education and Children's Privacy

In March, we:

• Issued a statement regarding Trump’s executive order (EO) to dismantle the Department of Education (USED). The EO specifically instructs Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary actions to transfer educational authority back to the states while maintaining the effective and continuous delivery of essential services, programs, and benefits for Americans. SIIA believes USED plays a crucial role in driving research, innovation, and best practices that improve student outcomes. USED's support for education technology through education research and development fosters data-driven innovation, prepares students for the future workforce and strengthens national competitiveness.  
• Joined the Future of Federal Education Research and Development Taskforce, in a partnership with the Alliance for Learning Innovation, InnovateEdu and the Learning System Leadership Network.  The taskforce has the charge to proactively examine, assess, and recommend strategies for transforming education to meet the evolving needs of students, society and the broader global economy.  
• Met with staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, discussing education, ed tech, and kids' privacy.  Specifically, we discussed new FERPA regulations and how SIIA can collaborate with the committee to best serve our members. 

Privacy, Data, and Cybersecurity Policy

In March, we:

• Led a coalition letter to the White House and five Cabinet agencies expressing concern about the United Kingdom’s reported use of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to demand access to users’ end-to-end encrypted material held in the Apple iCloud. This was prompted by news reports about the extraterritorial reach of the UK government’s request which would essentially require Apple to modify its iCloud system to create a backdoor for iCloud users worldwide. Paul also presented to a meeting of the Center for Democracy and Technology on the effort.
• Joined a coalition of associations seeking further guidance, and a postponement of deadlines, on the DOJ’s rule, Access to US Sensitive Personal Data and Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern and Covered Person.
• Joined several organizations in urging Congressional leaders to pass the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets (SAMOSA) Act before the session ends. This bipartisan legislation aims to reduce wasteful spending in federal agencies by requiring independent reviews of software management practices. You can read the full coalition letter here.

Competition, Digital Trade, and Innovation Policy

In March, we:

• Met with staff for Senator Lee and Congressman Fitzgerald, respectively the chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittees on antitrust, to get a better sense of their legislative and oversight priorities for the coming months.  We also discussed international antitrust issues, particularly as it relates to DMA implantation in the EU. We also met with staff for Congressman Nadler, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Subcommittee.  Among the issues we discussed were antitrust, the nexus between antitrust and digital trade, Section 230, and AI.

• Joined a multi-association letter congratulating Ambassador Greer on his confirmation as the new United States Trade Representative.  The letter also shares a number of recommendations for advancing U.S. leadership in constructing digital trade rules that support U.S. jobs, exports, innovation, and competitiveness across the economy, including greater facilitation of cross-border data flows, banning data localization mandates, and preventing discrimination against U.S. digital services and products.

• Published a blog on the remedy phase of the Google search trial. After the court last fall found in favor of the DOJ, the agency filed its proposal for potential remedies in the case, which included several draconian measures that would severely harm competition and consumers.  In this blog, we argue that it is important that any remedy in the search case be carefully crafted with a focus on preserving U.S. global competitiveness and the welfare of consumers.

• Posted on social media to congratulate Gail Slater on her confirmation as the new Assistant Attorney General in charge of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division.  We hope to see a renewed focus on the part of the DOJ on ensuring competition policies that help Americans—not hurt them—by encouraging innovation and protecting consumers.

• Published a blog lamenting that the recent announcement by the European Commission of new enforcement actions under the Digital Markets Act unfortunately follow a trend where the Commission’s actions put European consumers and small businesses at risk and threaten the competitiveness of American companies.

State Policy

In March, we:

• Sent letters on Arizona AB2542 and Tennessee SB377/HB548, all related to the state procurement and foreign adversaries. SIIA’s concerns include impact on the state supply chains, overly burdensome regulations as federal regulations already exist, and compliance difficulties for small and medium companies.
• Submitted a letter to Utah Governor Spencer Cox on SB142, the App Store Accountability Act. The Governor signed the bill on March 24 and will become law.
• Submitted opposition testimony on California’s AB1064, LEAD for KIDS Act, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. SIIA’s concerns include: refining the risk-based approach for guardrails to protect children using AI technologies, adding complexity and burden to school systems, the proposed board composition, and sufficient staffing/funding for the proposed board. SIIA also signed onto letters from the CalChamber on AB1355 and AB1018. 
• Submitted written testimony in opposition to Illinois HB2913, a data broker registry and DELETE Act copycat bill, and HB3041, an ADPPA style-comprehensive privacy bill.
• Joined a coalition of public interest organizations and trade associations in opposing Maryland’s HB 1407, a bill that closely mirrors the federal NO FAKES Act. Read the full letter here.

Intellectual Property

In March, we:  

• Attended the House Judiciary Committee’s Roundtable on Judicial Blocking of Foreign Piracy, and Emerging Technologies, hosted by Chair Issa. A discussion draft on a judicial blocking bill will be forthcoming.
• Met with staff for Sen. Coons to discuss the NO FAKES Act, which is expected to be reintroduced soon. 
  

Strategic Litigation

In March, we:

• Joined an amicus brief, urging the Supreme Court to review a recent decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The brief argues that the Fourth Circuit got the law wrong, and in the process upended decades of antitrust doctrine, when it endorsed the “monopoly broth” theory, which holds that multiple lawful business practices, when combined, can somehow violate the Sherman Act.