TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined 35 other attorneys general from across the country in warning Congress against banning state-level regulation of artificial intelligence.
The bipartisan coalition sent a letter to lawmakers opposing a proposal that would prevent states from passing or enforcing their own AI laws, reportedly under consideration as part of a federal military funding bill.
Platkin said such a measure would strip states of their ability to protect residents from rapidly evolving AI-related harms, including scams, misinformation, and exploitation of vulnerable users.
“It is outrageous that Congress would try to prevent states from taking necessary steps to keep our residents safe from the threats posed by unregulated and unmonitored artificial intelligence,” Platkin said.
Attorneys general cite AI risks to children and seniors
The coalition’s letter warns that AI tools are already being misused in ways that endanger the public, such as impersonation scams targeting seniors, inappropriate chatbot interactions with children, and misinformation campaigns that can distort reality and influence behavior.
Officials say that while AI has legitimate uses in fields such as health care and public safety, it also poses unprecedented consumer protection challenges.
State laws filling federal regulatory gap
Several states have already enacted laws to regulate AI-driven deception, prevent robocall abuse, and safeguard data privacy. The attorneys general argue these laws are necessary because the federal government has yet to establish comprehensive AI protections.
A congressional ban, they wrote, would “be catastrophic for our residents’ safety” and remove crucial tools used by state prosecutors and regulators to combat fraud.
Coalition calls for federal-state collaboration
Rather than limiting state authority, the group urged Congress to work collaboratively with state leaders to develop meaningful federal standards that can coexist with state-level enforcement.
Platkin was joined in the letter by attorneys general from 35 states and territories, representing both parties, including California, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Tennessee.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin joined 35 other attorneys general urging Congress not to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence.
